Connect with us

News

KEDCO Set to Commission ₦1.1bn Dawanau Network Expansion Project to Light Up Africa’s Largest Grain Hub

Published

on

 

Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has successfully tested and is set to commission the newly constructed thirty-five km, 33 kV overhead power line from Bichi Transmission Station to Dawanau International Grain Market, comprising two substations, 500 KVA 33/.415 transformers, and low-tension (LT) lines to serve Africa’s largest grain hub to foster economic growth in the state and the country at large.

The N1.1 billion project is part of the focused investment being driven by the new core investor in Kano DisCo, Future Energies Africa (FEA), as it works with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the State Governments in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa to improve the Electricity Distribution Company rapidly.

The Ag. Managing Director/CEO Dr. Abubakar Shuaibu Jimeta disclosed this during an inspection tour to the Dawanau area in Kano recently.

“We recognize the critical role of the Dawanau Market, especially in agricultural export, food security, and the region’s socio-economic development. Previously limping on 4 hours of daily power, we will now be supplying 20+ hours, thereby increasing its electricity capacity by 10MW, attracting 400+ medium and large-scale agro-processing plants and reducing their operating cost by 80% for sustainable growth,” he said.

Dr. Jimeta also noted that this crucial project dovetails with the Kano State Government’s broader market standardization program, through the State Government’s recent partnership with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), and Lives and Livelihood Fund (LLF) that is investing ₦628 Million in infrastructure upgrades, improved waste management, better security and facilities, and now, we are providing reliable, stable electricity to complement those efforts.

Advert

A Director on the Board of KEDCO, Alh. Habib Ahmed Daura, speaking about the project, thanked His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, for his constant emphasis on the need to bring the Dawanau Market up to benchmark standards for modern commercial hubs. Alh. Ahmed Daura stated that “We are receiving great support from His Excellency Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s team, Dr. Gaddafi Sani Shehu, the Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, and Engr. Sani Bala, Managing Director of Kano State Rural Electricity Board, who are constantly engaging to ensure improved electricity supply outcomes for the citizens in Kano.”

KEDCO’s Chairman, Engr. Adamu Ibrahim Gumel, in his comments, stated that “the investment addresses significant constraints on the industrial cluster’s growth potential as the largest international grain hub in sub-Saharan Africa and will also drastically boost KEDCO’s energy off-take, leading to equivalent growth in revenue for the company.”

“With the project completed, tested, and set for commissioning, the market is poised to experience a sharp uptick in power quality and availability. Customers in the Dawanau industrial cluster should expect steadier power flows, fewer outages, and increased capacity for industrial-sized power users,” he said.

“Under the guidance of our core investor, Future Energies Africa (FEA), network expansion and power generation are some of the company’s major plans to improve power supply in an accelerated fashion, especially in industrial and commercial clusters, for economic and financial growth of the region,” he added.

In a statement signed by Sani Bala Sani Head ,corporate communications said as a key trade hub in the Sahel, Dawanau underpins regional food security and cross-border commerce. This project expands KEDCO’s customer base and energy sales, reinforcing its financial health and capacity for further infrastructure upgrades.

 

News

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

Published

on

 

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.

Advert

“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.

Continue Reading

News

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

Published

on

 

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.”

Advert

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.

Continue Reading

News

Aminu Magashi Donates Relief Materials to Bichi Female Rehabilitation Centre Inmates

Published

on

 

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.

Advert

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.

Continue Reading

Trending