The government of Jigawa and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), yesterday, said they are considering a new partnership that will power thousands of underserved and unserved communities in the state.

The initiative is expected to, in the short term, provide electricity to about one million in the state as part of the strategic growth plan of the state.

The development, disclosed yesterday in Abuja, came on the backdrop of the implementation of the Electricity Act, which empowers subnational governments to play key roles in electricity generation and distribution.

The move is also expected to see the state create an investor-friendly business environment for the private sector to drive the move.

Jigawa had, prior to the roundtable with the REA, signed a deal to establish a 1000-megawatt solar power project in addition to scaling up its earlier 7.5 per cent shareholding in Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) to 10 per cent.

Speaking at the event, REA said the roundtable with the state followed the sustained and productive engagements between the agency and the governor, Umar Namadi.

The REA – Jigawa State Roundtable, themed ‘Unleashing Market Opportunities for Decentralised Renewable Energy in Jigawa State’ is expected to strengthen the Jigawa State Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy to provide reliable and inclusive energy solutions for the state.

Managing Director of REA, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, said the agency was committed to the implementation of least-cost electrification strategies, backed by data and efficient sustainability mechanisms.

“Jigawa State has the potential to immediately electrify one million people using solar mini-grids, to catalyse socioeconomic growth and investment opportunities in the state,” he said.