The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) is set to commission a N1.1 billion power infrastructure project aimed at energising the Dawanau International Grain Market, the largest grain hub in Africa.

This milestone project, which has already undergone successful testing, marks a significant leap in addressing long-standing electricity challenges in the area and boosting Nigeria’s agro-industrial productivity.

Spanning 35 kilometres, the newly completed 33kV overhead power line connects the Bichi Transmission Station to Dawanau Market. The line includes two new substations equipped with 500 KVA 33/.415 transformers and extensive low-tension (LT) distribution lines. Once fully operational, it is expected to supply over 20 hours of electricity daily to the market, a substantial improvement from the previous average of just four hours per day.

The project, funded as part of a strategic investment by KEDCO’s new core investor, Future Energies Africa (FEA), is implemented in partnership with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the state governments of Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa. It aims to improve the region’s electricity infrastructure and accelerate industrial development.

Abubakar Shuaibu Jimeta, acting managing director and CEO of KEDCO, announced the imminent commissioning during an inspection tour of the site in Kano.

He highlighted the economic potential the project unlocks: “We recognise the critical role of the Dawanau Market, especially in agricultural export, food security, and the region’s socio-economic development,” he said.

“Previously limping on 4 hours of daily power, we will now be supplying 20+ hours, thereby increasing its electricity capacity by 10MW, attracting 400+ medium and large-scale agro-processing plants, and reducing their operating cost by 80% for sustainable growth,” Jimeta added.

This upgrade aligns with the broader objectives of the Kano State Government’s market modernisation strategy. Through partnerships with development finance institutions like the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Lives and Livelihood Fund (LLF), over N628 million has been committed to other market infrastructure enhancements, including better waste management, security upgrades, and facility improvements.

“This reliable and stable electricity supply is designed to complement those efforts,” Jimeta emphasised.

Board Director of KEDCO, Alhaji Habib Ahmed Daura, also lauded the support from Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, stating that the administration has consistently prioritised the development of Dawanau Market. He credited the governor’s team, including Dr. Gaddafi Sani Shehu, Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, and Engr. Sani Bala, MD of the Kano State Rural Electricity Board, for their active collaboration.

“We are receiving great support from His Excellency Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s team,” Daura noted. “Their engagement is helping to ensure improved electricity supply outcomes not just for Dawanau, but for Kano State at large.”

KEDCO Chairman, Adamu Gumel, KEDCO chairman described the project as a game-changer for regional commerce and for the company’s financial future.

“This investment addresses significant constraints on the industrial cluster’s growth potential as the largest international grain hub in sub-Saharan Africa,” he said. “It will also drastically boost KEDCO’s energy off-take, leading to equivalent growth in revenue for the company.”

According to KEDCO, customers in the Dawanau cluster should prepare for “steadier power flows, fewer outages, and increased capacity for industrial-sized power users.”

The investment is part of a wider strategic push by Future Energies Africa to scale up power generation and distribution across Northern Nigeria, especially in economically critical zones.

“Network expansion and power generation are some of our major plans to improve power supply in an accelerated fashion,” Gumel said. “We are targeting industrial and commercial clusters for the economic and financial growth of the region.”

Situated in northern Kano, Dawanau Market plays a pivotal role in agricultural trade across West Africa, serving as a regional hub for grains such as millet, maize, sorghum, and cowpeas. It facilitates cross-border commerce throughout the Sahel and underpins food security across multiple nations.

With this new electricity backbone, the market is now poised to fully capitalise on its potential. Reliable power will reduce post-harvest losses, improve storage conditions, and encourage investment in value-added processing, such as milling and packaging.

For KEDCO, the project represents not only a boost to its customer base but also a leap in its operational capacity. Enhanced revenues from increased energy sales will, in turn, fund further infrastructure improvements in the region.

In the words of Jimeta: “This is more than just a power line, it’s an investment in jobs, trade, and regional prosperity.”

The commissioning ceremony is expected to take place in the coming days, with dignitaries from both the public and private sectors in attendance. As power finally flows uninterrupted to the heart of Africa’s grain economy, a new chapter begins for thousands of traders, processors, and entrepreneurs across Kano and beyond. (BusinessDay)