Tunde Bakare
A key milestone has been recorded by Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states to improve electricity supply and distribution efficiency through the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO).
After a crucial meeting in Morocco the three States agreed to partner with Future Energies Africa (FEA)
the core investor in Kano Electricity Distribution Company – KEDCO), on first-of-its-kind electrification fund with target capitalization of N50 billion in the first instance.
The move is to rapidly accelerate access and supply across the three States through embedded generation using renewables, solar home systems, grid extension and mini-grids, according to Sani Bala Sani, Head, Corporate Communications, of the DisCo.
The Executive Governors of Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States, their Excellencies Mal. Abba Kabir Yusuf, Mal. Dikko Radda, and Mal. Umar Namadi, met with FEA in Marrakech, Morocco over the weekend for the High-Level Electrification Summit/Meeting.
Some of the other meeting attendees included the Speakers of Katsina and Jigawa States (Rt. Hon. Nasir Yahaya Saif and Rt. Hon. Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin), the Commissioners responsible for Power in Kano and Jigawa (Dr. Gaddafi Sani Shehu and Dr. Surajo Alhaji Musa), the Special Adviser to the Governor of Katsina responsible for Power (Dr. Hafiz Ibrahim Ahmed) and the Attorney General of Jigawa (Hon. Bello Fanini Abubakar).
The Commissioner Dafe C. Akpeneye from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) also attended the session.
The hosts of the event, Future Energies Africa were led by the Chairman of the company Alh. Najib J.A. Koguna alongside Ahmad Rufai Zakari, OON, Alh. Habib Daura Ahmed and Engr. Yusuf Usman Yahaya. The Chairman of KEDCO Alh. Adamu Ibrahim Gumel and the Managing Director of KEDCO Dr. Abubakar Jimeta were also in attendance. Experts from DLA Piper, the Boston Consulting Group and BlackAion Capital were also in attendance.
At the meeting Kano and Katsina States agreed to join Jigawa State in taking equity stakes in Future Energies Africa to bolster KEDCO’s strategic direction.
In addition Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States agreed to collaborate and explore means under the Electricity Act to partner amongst themselves on areas of their tri-state market where partner regulation is mutually beneficial.
The three states would collaborate with KEDCO to reduce losses from residential consumers to allow supply to improve to citizens in the States; and
Under the current arrangement the FEA and State representatives would convene annual international retreat and meet quarterly (and as required) to review progress, set direction, and strengthen ties for North-western tri-state electricity market.