The Jigawa State Government in Nigeria, in partnership with the new core investor in the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) – Future Energies Africa, has signed a deal to increase its shareholding in KEDCO to 10% from 7.5% and has also committed KEDCO to an electrification partnership, aiming to boost access to electricity in the state.

This was revealed in a statement obtained by AdvisorsReports on Wednesday, which disclosed that the Jigawa State Government’s agreement with KEDCO is expected to ensure stable electricity across the state.

AdvisorsReports gathered that the deal in the near term, 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 multi billion-naira agreement will serve as a catalyst for the continued transformation of Jigawa into an agri- processing and renewable energy hub.

 Governor Namadi stated that “We believe 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 exit more and more people from poverty and make Jigawa State a prime destination for investment and jobs in Nigeria.”

Eng. Adamu Ibrahim Gumel, the Chairman of Kano DISCO, on his part, emphasized his company’s aspirations and commitment to diversify into more green energy in partnership with the State Government.

He said “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 partnership for renewable electricity between the Jigawa State Government and KEDCO is the first of its kind in the country.