Jigawa Govt, KEDCO Commission ?1.2bn Solar Mini-Grid Project in Kafin Hausa

The Jigawa State Government, in partnership with the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) and Future Energies Africa (FEA), has commissioned a ?1.2 billion solar mini-grid project in Kafin Hausa, aimed at expanding access to clean and reliable electricity.

The project, inaugurated on Saturday by Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi, features a 500kWp solar-hybrid generation system with a 10MWp output capacity, backed by a 350MVA diesel generator. It also includes a 3.5km 33kV distribution line and 500kV step-up and step-down transformers to enhance supply reliability.

According to KEDCO, the system will power 10 key distribution transformers across Kafin Hausa, including those at NEPA Office, Kofar Fada, Akarami, Bakin Kasuwa, and Ashura. The initiative is expected to reduce dependence on diesel generators, improve household and business electricity supply, and boost local industrial productivity.

Governor Speaks on Development Drive
Governor Namadi hailed the project as a milestone for Jigawa’s development agenda, describing it as “the ignition of opportunity, progress, and prosperity for the people of Kafin Hausa.” He stressed that affordable and sustainable energy was critical for job creation, industrialization, and poverty reduction in the state.

Private Sector Commitment
Ahmad Zakari, representing FEA, highlighted the project’s innovative hybrid design, which combines renewable and conventional energy sources. He described the model as a “new standard in electrification” and pledged further private sector investments in renewable energy for northern Nigeria.

The mini-grid was developed by Bagaja Renewables Limited, a renewable energy subsidiary of FEA—the core investor in KEDCO.

Policy Context

• In December 2024, Jigawa enacted the State Electricity Regulatory Commission law to strengthen electricity access and regulation.
• The state also established a dedicated Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy in 2024.
• Nationally, Nigeria targets 30% renewable energy generation by 2030 under its Energy Transition Plan (ETP).
• Earlier this year, the Federal Government allocated ?100 billion in the 2025 budget for solar mini-grids in public institutions under the National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative, aimed at reducing diesel-related expenditure.

The Jigawa project is expected to serve as a model for renewable energy adoption across rural and urban centres in northern Nigeria.