The Federal Government has begun discussions with electricity distribution companies on a proposed Energy Zone that could deliver 24-hour electricity supply to homes, businesses and industries in Kano and other major demand centres.
Kano is part of the proposed Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor targeted under the initiative, alongside the Lagos axis and Enugu-Port Harcourt corridor.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, held a closed-door meeting with the leadership of selected electricity distribution companies to discuss the plan.
The meeting was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the minister’s media aide, Adeola Adelabu.
According to the statement, the proposed Energy Zones are designed to improve the reliability of electricity supply in areas with high commercial and industrial demand by addressing constraints at the distribution end of the power chain.
Tegbe said the challenge facing Nigeria’s power sector was not limited to generation and transmission, but also involved the ability of distribution companies to receive and deliver available electricity to consumers.
“The constraint on the sector is not limited to generation and transmission but includes how much power is taken up and delivered at the distribution end,” the minister said.
He said the proposed zones would help bridge the distribution gap, unlock commercial and industrial demand and improve the revenue and collection performance of electricity distribution companies.
For Kano, the proposed Energy Zone would form part of the wider Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor, where reliable electricity is expected to support businesses, manufacturing and other productive activities.
The Federal Government said it was committed to expanding electricity infrastructure in areas with high demand, stressing that supply capacity must grow alongside Nigeria’s expanding economy.
However, the statement did not give a timeline for the implementation of the proposed Energy Zones or specify the electricity capacity and infrastructure investments required to achieve 24-hour supply.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, Eko Power, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Sahara Energy Group.
The proposed initiative comes amid persistent concerns over electricity reliability and the ability of distribution companies to deliver available power to consumers.
The government said the engagement formed part of the minister’s phased approach to addressing longstanding challenges in the power sector and was aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on electricity, industrialisation and job creation.
