- KEDCO is expanding the power supply at Dawanau Grain Market to over 20 hours daily, adding 10MW capacity and cutting agro-processor costs by up to 80%.
- The ₦1.1bn project includes two substations, transformers, and distribution lines to boost trade and food security in West Africa’s top grain hub.
Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has commissioned a ₦1.1 billion electricity network expansion project at the Dawanau International Grain Market in Kano on Thursday, June 26.
KEDCO’s Acting Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Shuaibu Jimeta, disclosed the development during an inspection of the project site. He said the initiative includes a 33kV overhead line from the Bichi Transmission Station to Dawanau, two substations, 500kVA transformers, and low-tension distribution lines.
“This project will boost power supply to the market from four hours daily to over 20 hours, increasing capacity by 10 megawatts,” Jimeta said. “It will cut operational costs for more than 400 agro-processing businesses by up to 80%, support food security, and spur economic activity.”
He added that the upgrade aligns with the Kano State Government’s Market Development Programme, which is backed by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Fund.
Meanwhile, KEDCO board director Alhaji Habib Ahmed Daura credited Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration for supporting the project. He also acknowledged Dr. Gaddafi Sani Shehu, Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, and Sani Bala, Managing Director of the Kano State Rural Electricity Board.
Furthermore, KEDCO Chairman, Adamu Ibrahim-Gumel, said the project would unlock the industrial potential of the Dawanau cluster, a central grain hub in sub-Saharan Africa.
“With improved electricity supply, we expect increased energy off-take and enhanced revenue,” he said. “This project is part of a broader investment plan by Future Energies Africa, KEDCO’s core investor, in collaboration with the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the governments of Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa.”
He said KEDCO would continue to prioritise electricity supply to commercial and industrial zones to drive economic growth.
Dawanau Market is a key trading centre in the Sahel region and plays a significant role in regional food distribution.