EU Commits to Powering 10 Gombe PHCs and Local Businesses with 300kW Solar Microgrids Under Nigeria Solar for Health Project

The European Union (EU) has announced a significant investment in healthcare infrastructure in Gombe State, revealing plans to install solar microgrids with a cumulative capacity exceeding 300 kilowatts (300kW) to provide reliable, 24-hour electricity to at least 10 rural primary health centres (PHCs).

The initiative, titled the Nigeria Solar for Health Project (NISHP), was formally launched in Gombe today, Monday, December 15, 2025, alongside the inauguration of a Project Implementation Steering Committee to guide its deployment and oversight.

Inga Stefanowicz, Head of Section, Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, confirmed the plan, emphasizing the critical role of stable power in saving lives. “Electricity is vital for accessing healthcare services, and the shortage of energy in healthcare facilities poses significant challenges to delivering effective care,” she said. Reliable electricity is essential for operating medical devices, running diagnostic tools, ensuring safe deliveries, and crucially, preserving vaccines in cold storage.

Beyond healthcare, the project is designed to stimulate local economic activity. The solar microgrids will also extend clean electricity to support nearby small and medium enterprises (SMEs), demonstrating a model that links public service delivery with commercial viability and sustainability.

The Gombe State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, described the investment as transformative, noting that reliable electricity enables the proper use of medical equipment, supports safe deliveries, and improves overall patient care, which has historically been crippled by erratic power supply.

The NISHP in Gombe is part of the EU’s larger Global Gateway Strategy in Nigeria, a multi-state €10.4 million investment aimed at developing sustainable and inclusive infrastructure. Both the EU and the Gombe State Government, which has committed its counterpart funding, reiterated their dedication to effective oversight and long-term maintenance to ensure the solar systems’ sustainability and maximum community benefit.