The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has completed the installation of solar-powered street lights across several communities in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, reaffirming its commitment to post-conflict recovery, sustainable development, and improved quality of life for residents.
The intervention, implemented under the Commission’s “Operation Light Up North East” initiative, covers Buni Yadi, the Gujba Local Government headquarters, as well as several surrounding villages and communities. The project is designed to provide reliable and environmentally friendly electricity to communities that have endured years of insurgency, destruction of infrastructure, and limited access to essential public services.
The NEDC, under the compassionate and visionary leadership of its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mohammed Goni Alkali, has continued to install solar-powered security lights in strategic locations across the North East. These interventions are aimed at strengthening community security, promoting social stability, stimulating economic growth, extending commercial activities into the night, and creating a safer environment for residents, businesses, students, and healthcare workers.
The solar street light project in Gujba Local Government Area benefits the following communities and public facilities:
Buni Yadi and environs
Buni Gari and environs
Kukuwa Tasha
Garin Mai Mala
Katarko Village
Kasaisa Village
Wagir Primary Healthcare Centre (PHCC)
Katarko Primary Healthcare Centre (PHCC)
Gujba Primary Healthcare Centre (PHCC)
Mutai Primary Healthcare Centre and Community
Speaking during an inspection of the ongoing installations, the NEDC Executive Director of Administration and Finance, Dr. Abubakar Garba Iliya, accompanied by the Yobe State Coordinator, Prof. Ali Ibrahim Abbas, explained that the project forms part of a broader regional strategy to deploy renewable energy solutions across rural and underserved communities throughout the North East.
According to Dr. Iliya, the Commission remains committed to promoting clean, affordable, and sustainable energy as a catalyst for economic recovery and social development. He noted that the solar lighting initiative is expected to improve security, facilitate safer movement at night, support healthcare delivery, encourage educational activities, and provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
Residents and community leaders expressed appreciation to the Commission for the intervention, describing the project as timely and transformative. They observed that the availability of street lighting will significantly reduce insecurity, enhance public confidence, prolong business hours, improve access to healthcare services at night, and reduce dependence on costly fuel-powered generators.
The project aligns with the objectives of the 2022 North East Stabilization and Development Master Plan (NESDMP), which prioritizes infrastructure rehabilitation, renewable energy deployment, community resilience, and sustainable economic recovery across the region.
As part of its unwavering commitment to rebuilding communities affected by conflict, the NEDC will continue to collaborate with the administration of Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State and other critical stakeholders to deliver impactful projects that promote peace, stability, inclusive development, and shared prosperity throughout the North East.
Through strategic investments in renewable energy infrastructure, the Commission continues to demonstrate that sustainable development remains central to its mission of restoring hope, improving livelihoods, and building a more secure and prosperous future for the people of the North East.
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