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KEDCO Says It’s Building 100MW Safe Grid to Protect Consumers from Grid Collapses

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Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) is pleased to announce a partnership and initial investment of around $100 million to develop a 100MW “Safe Grid” for Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa States, to provide 24-hour power supply to key industries, commercial hubs, and critical government infrastructure, eliminating reliance on the national grid.

This was contained in statement signed by Head of corporate communications KEDCO Sani Bala Sani and made available to newsmen.

He said due to the lingering effects of the challenges the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is currently facing in supplying energy to our franchise area, KEDCO is still receiving less than half of its allocation from the grid, which has caused great disruptions for our valued customers, institutions, and businesses while challenging our company’s financial performance

Sani said the ‘Safe Grid’ will be powered by embedded electricity generation in KEDCO’s network to ensure energy security within the network and eliminate the risks associated with absolute dependence on the grid such as unreliability and total blackouts, enabling key industries and socio-economic activities to thrive in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa States while safeguarding jobs and competitiveness in our network.

This project will build the first 20MW power plant (of the 100MW) with Utilita under an Emergency Project valued at $20 million that will be operational by the end of the year to begin supply for the “Safe Grid”. The Generation units are already available and KEDCO is accelerating project development ahead of installation and commissioning in the Tamburawa area. KEDCO will also purchase electricity for the “Safe Grid” from the 10MW Haske Solar Power Plant (built by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) and from the 16MW combined capacities from Tiga and Challawa Hydroelectric power projects built by the Kano State Government, bringing the total initial supply in the ‘Safe Grid’ to 46MW.

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Furthermore, KEDCO is discussing with the Federal Ministry of Power to take over and complete the 10MW Katsina Wind Farm project and supply it into the ‘Safe Grid’. A further 54MW will be supplied through additional power plant projects using Gas and Solar. A new parallel distribution grid architecture is being built to take this ‘Safe Grid’ to all key locations and supply areas in the Franchise Area (Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa) starting from Kano State. ‘Safe Grid’ is already connecting the Dawanau International Grain Market through a dedicated 40km line (90% completed), conceived and executed by KEDCO and its core investor – Future Energies Africa (FEA).

KEDCO is engaging and partnering with the State Governments to determine the “Safe Grid” supply locations that will ensure the most economic value for its citizens, focusing on enhancing and securing jobs in industries, agro-processing, and commercial hubs, and safeguarding supply to critical Government Infrastructure. The Administration of their Excellencies – Abba Kabir Yusuf, Dikko Radda, and Umar Namadi (and their respective State Assemblies) have been great supporters of the ongoing turnaround programme in KEDCO. We plan to continue partnering with the State Governments to provide an enabling environment and to accelerate laws for the first Joint Electricity Regulation structure in the country across the 3 States. This will enable KEDCO to power the “Safe Grid” for the benefit of the 3 States from any of the power plants being built in the embedded network.

The “Safe Grid” will complement the ongoing “Utility 2.0” project earlier announced and being embarked on with 31 key developers to build 60MW of mini-grids. Developer partners in Uility 2.0 include Bagaja, Elektron, Paras, Grid Crux, Strom, Prado, Axxela, Bayshore, and Husk (amongst others).

Interestingly, as Bagaja has already commenced building projects in Charanci (Katsina) and Kafin Hausa (Jigawa) KEDCO is encouraging “Utility 2.0” developers to accelerate the pace of their projects in light of the lingering supply constraints in our network.

To foster reliability and affordability, KEDCO currently has the most competitive industrial Band A rates in the country with its partnership with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) branches in our States and still intends to maintain competitive rates with ‘Safe Grid’ through competitive bilateral grid contracts for the benefit our valued customers.
KEDCO is excited to be the first DisCo to offer 24-hour supply through the ‘Safe Grid’ initiative and ascribes to the visions of our State Governors in making our franchise area attractive for industrial and agro-processing businesses to provide the jobs needed to improve the economies of the region, in which stable power is crucial.
Our vision is to enable re-industrialization and socio-economic empowerment of our franchise area through safe, stable, and cost-competitive electricity supply, keenly focused on our customers’ satisfaction. Thus, we encourage all Electricity Supply (and Gas Supply Companies) working in our network to partner with us in providing more affordable electricity rather than operating in isolation leading to higher costs for consumers.

We remain committed to improving electricity supply and associated services. To achieve this, we urge strong collaboration with all stakeholders to achieve this goal of providing electricity for all.

 

 

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Kaduna 2027: Governor Uba Sani Replaces Deputy, Names Jerry Adams as Running Mate

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

In a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 governorship election, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has officially nominated the Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), Jerry Adams, as his new running mate.

The announcement, made on Tuesday via a personally signed statement, effectively signals the end of the ticket with the current Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, who also served as Deputy to former Governor Nasir El-Rufai during his second term.

Governor Sani framed the decision as more than a political calculation, describing it as a “reaffirmation” of his administration’s core philosophy of inclusive governance.

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“This decision is far greater than the selection of a deputy governorship candidate. It is a reaffirmation of the values that have guided our administration since I took the oath of office on 29 May 2023; the values of inclusion, justice, fairness, equity and the unwavering conviction that every citizen of Kaduna State deserves a genuine sense of belonging,” the Governor stated.

Addressing the state’s complex socio-political landscape, Sani noted that Kaduna’s rich diversity in ethnicity, religion, and culture should be a source of strength rather than division. He reflected on the state’s history, emphasizing the need to learn from past conflicts.

“Our history has taught us difficult lessons about the heavy cost of division, mistrust and exclusion. Yet it has also shown us that when we choose dialogue over discord, inclusion over alienation and justice over prejudice, our people achieve extraordinary things together,” he added.

The Governor touted his administration’s track record over the last three years as evidence of this commitment, citing equitable distribution of developmental projects across the state’s 23 local government areas. Key sectors highlighted include road infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, water supply, rural development, and social protection programs.

The nomination of Jerry Adams, who currently oversees the state’s revenue generation, signals a potential shift in the administration’s focus toward economic consolidation and fiscal expansion as it prepares for the 2027 electoral contest.

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No Sin in Politics’ Wike Says as Fubara Returns to Rainbow Coalition

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

FCT minister Nyesom Wike has welcomed the return of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to his political side, declaring the latter has corrected his mistakes.

He said this in Abuja on Tuesday after inspecting the project, alongside the ongoing construction of the service carriageways of the Southern Parkway in Gaduwa District, Abuja.

Reacting to the Rivers governor’s recent declaration about his return to the Rainbow Coalition and pledge of complete loyalty to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, Mr Wike said, “There is no sin in politics.”

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The minister further stated, “If someone realises he made a mistake and decides to correct it, there is nothing wrong with that.

“What matters is recognising that you were on the wrong path and deciding to take the right path.”

The minister, who welcomed Mr Fubara back into his political fold, insisted that the governor had “no other choice” than to return to the political family that brought him to power.

Mr Wike explained that the Rivers governor’s decision to align with his political camp publicly was a step in the right direction, adding that the reconciliation would strengthen support for Mr Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.

“I said during my last media chat that he had no other choice but to return to the same political family that produced him,” Mr Wike stated.

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Aminu Magashi Donates Relief Materials to Bichi Female Rehabilitation Centre Inmates

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The Technical Adviser to the Kano State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba, has donated relief materials, including blankets, food items, and essential drugs, to inmates of the Bichi Female Rehabilitation Centre following the destruction caused by a recent rainstorm.

Dr. Magashi made the donation during a visit to the facility on Sunday, July 26, accompanied by officials of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), led by its Executive Secretary, Alhaji Isyaku Abdullahi Kubarachi.

The visit followed a heavy rainstorm that damaged parts of the rehabilitation centre, leaving several buildings in need of urgent repairs. During the inspection, Dr. Magashi interacted with staff and female inmates while assessing the extent of the destruction.

He observed that the rainstorm had blown off the roofs of several female accommodation blocks, while sections of the perimeter fence had collapsed, creating serious safety and security concerns for the facility.

In response to the situation, Dr. Magashi commended the Kano State Emergency Management Agency for its swift intervention, particularly the decision to temporarily relocate all female inmates to a dedicated and secured section within the Bichi Male Rehabilitation Centre.

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According to SEMA, the temporary relocation was undertaken to safeguard the lives and welfare of the inmates while rehabilitation and reconstruction of the damaged facility are carried out.

Dr. Magashi described the agency’s response as timely and necessary, noting that the safety and well-being of vulnerable persons in government care should remain a top priority.

He also pledged to support SEMA and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in convening a strategic stakeholders’ meeting aimed at reviewing the incident and strengthening emergency response mechanisms across rehabilitation centres in the state.

The meeting, he said, would provide an opportunity to mobilize additional support from government institutions, non-governmental organizations, and development partners to improve SEMA’s capacity in managing the 13 rehabilitation centres under its supervision.

Dr. Magashi highlighted his continued commitment to supporting humanitarian interventions across Kano State, recalling that he had previously visited six of the state’s 13 rehabilitation centres where he donated drugs and food items to inmates.

He added that he had also sponsored a one-day capacity-building training for health workers serving in the rehabilitation centres to improve healthcare delivery to inmates.

The Technical Adviser expressed appreciation to the Executive Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, for appointing him to serve in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, pledging to continue supporting initiatives that improve the welfare of vulnerable residents across the state.If you’d like, I can also make it follow the exact Nigerian Tracker house style with a stronger lead, subhead, and editor-ready formatting.

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