From Abdullahi Idris, Dutse
The Government of Jigawa state and the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) have signed an innovative partnership that will ensure stable electricity across the state.
This was disclosed to pressmen at the government house dutse shortly after the meeting with critical energy stakeholders by chief press secretary to Jigawa Governor,Malam Hamisu Gumel.
Jigawa State, in partnership with the new core investor in KEDCO – Future Energies Africa – is increasing its shareholding in KEDCO to 10% from 7.5% while also committing KEDCO to an electrification partnership.
The partnership will see KEDCO (and partners) invest to build up to 10 Megawatts of solar-interconnected mini-grids in the key urban hubs of Dutse, Gumel, Hadejia, Kafin Hausa, Kazaure, and Ringim to augment power supply and ensure stable electricity across the state.
The partnership will also see KEDCO complete the Gagarawa-Taura-Ringim line and connect the communities on the axis to the grid.
The agreement between the Jigawa State Government and KEDCO will include the two parties partnering on joint electrification plans to raise access levels for electricity in the state to greater than 90% by 2030. The electrification plans will include grid expansion, embedded generation, solar hybrid mini-grids, and solar home systems across the state.
This agreement is in line with Governor Mallam Umar Namadi’s dynamic agenda for the state, dubbed “The Agenda for Greater Jigawa,” which is encapsulated in the Governor’s 12-point agenda blueprint for the development of Jigawa State.
This multibillion-naira agreement will serve as a catalyst for the continued transformation of Jigawa into an agri-processing and renewable energy hub.
Presiding over the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday at the Government House Dutse, Governor Namadi remarked that with stable electricity across the state, “the lives of our people will be improved, and we can sustain a consistent double-digit growth rate to expel more and more people from poverty and make Jigawa State a prime destination for investment and jobs in Nigeria.”
The Chairman of Kano DISCO, Eng. Adamu Ibrahim Gumel, emphasized his company’s aspirations and commitment to diversify green energy in partnership with the state government.
“We are very excited about this agreement. The new core investor in KEDCO is focused on ensuring that KEDCO becomes the best DISCO in Nigeria in the next few years. We hope to unveil similar partnerships with Kano and Katsina states later this year as part of our broad recapitalization exercise. We will make KEDCO the first green electricity distribution company in sub-Saharan Africa while supporting the development agendas of the state governments in our franchise areas.”
The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, signed the MoU for the Jigawa State Government, while Alhaji Adamu Ibrahim, Chairman of the Board of Directors, signed for KEDCO.
The partnership for renewable electricity between the Jigawa State Government and KEDCO is the first of its kind in the country.
