Jigawa State Government has signed a Joint Venture Agreement for the establishment of a 100-megawatt-per-annum solar panel assembly factory as part of efforts to deepen industrialisation and expand renewable energy infrastructure in the state.
The agreement was signed on Friday at the Government House, Dutse, between the state government, Tesni Energy Nigeria Limited and Leda GreenPower Energy Engineering Company of Beijing.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, in Dutse, the signing ceremony was witnessed by members of the State Executive Council and representatives of the partnering companies.
Speaking at the event, Governor Malam Umar Namadi described the project as a key component of Jigawa’s long-term development strategy, noting that it would serve both commercial and strategic purposes.
He explained that the solar panel assembly plant would support the state’s plan to develop a 100-megawatt solar power generation facility, while also producing related components such as solar-powered irrigation pumps and other associated products.
Governor Namadi said the project would generate employment, stimulate local industries and attract additional investments, assuring investors of the government’s readiness to meet all obligations under the agreement.
He added that the initiative would have a positive impact on the state’s economy and contribute to sustainable development.
Earlier, the Team Lead of Tesni/Leda GreenPower, Engr. Bashir Ishak, described the agreement as historic, saying the project is the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria and among the first in the country in terms of the technology to be deployed.
Engr. Ishak disclosed that the plant would produce up to 100 megawatts of solar panels annually and position Jigawa as the first state in Nigeria to locally produce this category of solar panels from start to finish.
He said feasibility studies and Environmental Impact Assessments had been completed, adding that the factory would significantly reduce the cost of solar power deployment by up to 60 percent.
The project, valued at over five million dollars, will be executed as a joint venture using a semi-automatic production system designed to balance efficiency with job creation for Jigawa youths.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, Engr. Surajo Musa, said the project aligns with ongoing power sector reforms and leverages Jigawa’s high solar irradiation, making it timely and strategic.
Usman Mohammed Zaria
