The Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has flagged off the construction of a 1×7.5MVA, 33/11kV Injection Substation and a 2.5km 33kV line tee-off at the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park in Dadin Kowa, to be executed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).
Speaking during the official flag-off ceremony, Governor Yahaya described the project as a vital link between vision and reality in his administration’s determined pursuit of sustainable industrialisation and economic diversification.
He said; “It is with great pride that we perform the flag-off of this injection substation, which will provide reliable electricity to the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park. This project is the final piece of the puzzle needed to operationalise the park and unlock its full potential.”
The 1×7.5MVA Injection Substation, to be executed by the NDPHC, will connect the industrial park directly to the national grid.
Governor Yahaya noted that the intervention was in line with his administration’s domestication of the Electricity Act, which empowers Gombe to generate, transmit, and distribute power to drive local industries.
He lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his renewed commitment to revitalising Nigeria’s power sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as a critical enabler for economic development.
“Our vision for establishing the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park is simple but ambitious: to ignite the industrialisation of Gombe State and transform our economy, with a strong focus on the agri-business value chain,” the Governor said.
He explained that the fertile land and strategic location of Gombe have given the state a natural comparative advantage, while his administration’s reforms have created an enabling environment for investors.
Also Read: Gombe: Water Resources Minister inaugurates Hydropower Project
The Gombe State Governor noted the back-to-back ranking of the state as the No. 1 state in Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria (2021 and 2022) by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), crediting institutions such as the Gombe State Investment Promotion Agency (GOSIPA) and the Gombe Revenue Optimisation Company Limited (GROCOL) for streamlining business processes and removing bureaucratic barriers.
Governor Yahaya appealed to host communities to take ownership of the project and protect it as a shared investment for collective prosperity.
He emphasised that his administration remains committed to deepening partnerships with federal agencies to deliver critical infrastructure that supports growth.
“Only 400 of the 1,000 hectares of land in the Industrial Park have been utilised so far. We are calling on investors, both local and foreign, to key into this economic vision and take advantage of the opportunities here. This project will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, particularly for our young people,” the Governor added.
In her remarks, the Managing Director of the NDPHC, Mrs Jennifer Agidije, praised Governor Yahaya’s partnership drive, pledging to support his vision for electrification across all local government areas in Gombe State.
“With the commencement of the 7.5MVA Injection Substation project, the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park is set to become the beating heart of industrial and economic renaissance in the North-East. At NDPHC, we believe that access to reliable electricity is fundamental to national development. We believe that this project will provide a dedicated and efficient power source to the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park and its environs, and will also unlock new investment opportunities and create jobs for the good people of Gombe,” Mrs Agidije stated.
Also speaking, the Executive Director, Networks, NDPHC, Mr Bello Babayo Bello, commended the Gombe State Government for its foresight in domesticating the state electricity law, noting that the new substation will play a crucial role in powering industries and improving energy reliability across the state.
“This intervention is in line with Your Excellency’s commitment to improving industrialisation and ensuring sustainable growth through energy efficiency,” he added.
The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Sanusi Ahmed Pindiga, described the flag-off as another milestone in Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to ensuring stable power supply for the state’s industrial development.
The Chairman of Yamaltu-Deba LGA, Mr Abubakar Difa, expressed deep gratitude to the Governor for siting the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park in Dadin Kowa and for executing numerous developmental projects across the local government, including road networks, health facilities, and solar electrification.
The Managing Director of the Gombe Revenue Optimisation Company Limited (GROCOL), Mr Abdulkadir Usman, and other agencies also praised the Governor for his economic diversification efforts, noting that the Industrial Park has the potential to generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs when fully operational.
The Emir of Yamaltu, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, described the project as a turning point for the community and pledged the continued support of the host communities to safeguard the infrastructure.