Jigawa State has recorded a major breakthrough in renewable energy as Governor Umar Namadi commissioned the Kafin Hausa Mini-Grid Power Project, the first of a planned 10 megawatts of solar-hybrid mini-grids across the state.
The commissioning, held at the Bagaja Renewables Power Plant in Kafin Hausa, marks what Governor Namadi described as a “significant milestone” in Jigawa’s development journey.
The project, executed by Bagaja Renewables in partnership with KEDCO and Future Energies Africa, is designed to improve electricity access and boost socio-economic activities in the state.
According to Governor Namadi, the solar-hybrid mini-grid is part of Jigawa’s investment in KEDCO under a Memorandum of Understanding that commits the company to expand power supply across the state.
The Kafin Hausa plant has a capacity of 500 kilowatts peak, with a 3.5-kilometre distribution line, transformers, and supporting infrastructure.
It is the first of several mini-grids that will soon be commissioned in Dutse, Hadejia, Kazaure, Ringim, Gumel, and other locations.
Governor Namadi said the project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which empowers states to generate and distribute electricity independently.
He explained that Jigawa’s 12-Point Agenda prioritizes renewable energy, rural electrification, and private sector participation to transform the state’s economy.
As part of this vision, the Jigawa Government recently increased its stake in KEDCO from 7.5 percent to 10 percent, a move the governor said is already yielding results.
Namadi also noted that Jigawa is the first state in the North-West to establish a Ministry of Power and Energy and the first in the North to enact its own Electricity Law following the 2023 Electricity Act.
He highlighted other initiatives, including a partnership to set up 100 megawatts of power under a public-private arrangement to support the state electricity market.
The governor further revealed that 21 additional mini-grid projects are currently ongoing in hard-to-reach communities under the Nigerian Electrification Project, to be commissioned soon.
Governor Namadi reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring affordable, reliable, and clean energy for Jigawa people.
He assured that the state would continue to champion renewable energy reforms and remain at the forefront of power sector transformation in Northern Nigeria.
The event was attended by top government officials, energy experts, and community leaders, who hailed the project as a game-changer for Jigawa’s economic growth.
Usman Mohammed Zaria
