Kano State Government is leveraging two independent power to address rising electricity challenges in the northern region.
The State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, speaking in Kano during a courtesy visit by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu said the state’s own 10 megawatts Tiga Hydro Independent Power Plant is currently generating and distributing energy while another six megawatts plant is about 65 per cent completed.
Yusuf, raising concerns over the level of economic losses resulting from the epileptic state of national grid told the Minister that his administration is doing every possible to complement state power generation with what is being supplied by the grid.
Yusuf revealed plan to unveil agency for energy generation and distribution, leveraging on the National Electricity Act, which empowers enable state governments to address electricity deficit in their states.
He said the recent blackout of electricity supply in Northern Nigeria resulted to significant economic loss worth billions of naira in Kano.
He worried that the power obstructions broke down services on critical sectors including healthcare facilities, education and financial institutions while crippling revenue generation.
Yusuf decried the nefarious activities of vandals on critical national infrastructure along the Shiroro-Mando 330kV corridor, adding that the development brought set back to life and livelihood in the state.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Shehu Wada Sagagi, the Governor appealed to the Minister to ensure Kano get additional Megawatts to complement its present allocation to solve energy deficit in the state.
Equally, Yusuf pleaded with the Federal government to expedite action on the construction of second Kaduna – Kano 330KV and Daura-Jogana-Kura 330KV, and immediate commencement of the solar project approved for 19 northern states.
“The blackout causes significant loss in billions of naira to the industries in the state. Also affected the areas of revenue generation, health care sector and day to day activities of the populace,” he said.
Adelabu, while reacting to the Governor apologised to the northern region over the power blackout, saying President Bola Tinubu did not intend to discriminate against the region or any section of the country as being perceived by at some quarters.
He assured that efforts are on going to restore the main transmission line from Shiroro, stressing that by Sunday the full restoration of electricity would be confirmed.
The minister called on governments at all levels to join hands in the protection of power facilities across the country and essentially resolve the challenge of right and compensation to communities presently hindering completion of projects being carried out by Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
