This is coming as customers under the distribution company are raising concerns over inadequate supply in electricity in the areas of coverage.
Daily Trust gathered that the investment has aided the company to improve service delivery in the state and its franchise areas.
During a visit to the Media Trust headquarters in Abuja, the Strategic Adviser to the board of FEA, Ahmad Zakari, said they are doing a lot to improve service delivery, after FEA took over as core investor in 2024.
Sources in KEDCO revealed the expectation with the new investments is that these improvements in the networks infrastructure would help to enhance power supply to customers in the company’s coverage areas.
Recall that in January of 2024, the Jigawa State Executive Council announced that they would be making a N4 billion investment in FEA to acquire an incremental 2.5% shareholding in the Kano Electricity Distribution Company.
The agreement with Jigawa committed FEA to building up to 10MW of interconnected solar mini-grids in Dutse, Gumel, Hadejia, Kafin Hausa, Kazaure, and Ringim. The agreement also requires upgrade of critical infrastructure.
Thus far, FEA and KEDCO are executing the mini-grids through a sister company, Bagaja Renewables. The infrastructure investments, it was gathered, have already started with the 500kW Kafin Hausa mini-grid at 95% completion.
When Daily Trust reached out to FEA, and KEDCO, they provided feedback through their spokesperson, Sani Bala, who said: “We intend to launch the phase 2 mini-grid projects in Hadejia and Maigatari Free Trade Zone (Gumel), to provide augmented supply to these cities.
We estimate to spend an incremental $3m on these projects. We are also engaging with the JGSG to obtain a new project to replace the Gagarawa-Taura-Ringim line we initially were slated to build, as the Ministry of Power took over the responsibility for that project.”
Bala added, “Our investors are very bullish about the prospects of the business, as they are ramping up investments across the franchise area. We recently completed a 39km distribution line to provide Band A service to Dawanau International Grain Market.”
Customers seek improved supply
Meanwhile, KEDCO’s customers have urged the company to do more with the electricity supply given to them.
Residents of states under the company’s coverage areas, who spoke to Daily Trust, said there has been a decrease in the number of hours they get power supply, a development which is affecting their businesses.
Aminu Ibrahim, a fish seller at Court Road fisheries market in Kano, said since last week, electricity has not been as stable in the area.
“We have noticed a slight reduction in the number of hours we enjoy power, but we were told it is due to ongoing maintenance. We are lucky that this is the rainy season, so it won’t affect us that much. If it were a few months back; at the peak of the heat season, we would have counted losses,” Ibrahim said.
A resident of Kuntau, one of middle class neighbourhoods in Kano metropolis, Abubakar Maigari, also noted decline in electricity supply.
“We didn’t sleep with electricity yesterday, but they brought it back in the morning. We don’t get it as we used to. We hope it will soon improve, especially that we are already in the rainy season when availability tends to be higher,” Maigari added.
But to Kabiru Hussaini, a small scale businessman in Sharada industrial cluster, there has not been significant difference in the supply despite the complaints in some areas. “May be it is because we are on Band A,” he said.
Recently, KEDCO attributed the instability in power supply to poor allocation as a result on ongoing maintenance by the TCN on faulty transmission lines.
The DisCo said, “Once again, we sincerely apologise for the ongoing power supply shortage across our franchise areas. We understand the difficulties this has caused to your homes, businesses, and daily routines, and we deeply regret all the inconveniences.
“As earlier communicated, the reason behind the power shortage is temporary reduction in our allocation from 300+MW to an average of 167MW due to limitations on the transmission lines,” KEDCO’s statement read in part.
