By Ibrahim Hassan, Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has declared that electricity will no longer be a privilege reserved for urban centres, unveiling Phase One of a major electrification drive aimed at boosting economic growth and improving quality of life across the state.

The governor made the announcement during the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of 600 transformers and accessories across Kaduna’s 23 local government areas, alongside the deployment of 10,000 solar-powered streetlights.

Speaking at the event, Governor Sani said the initiative is designed to strengthen small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and enhance productivity for welders, tailors, cold-room operators, ICT hubs, and manufacturers.

“We are sending a clear message that access to energy must no longer be the privilege of a few urban centres but the right of every community,” he said.

Describing electricity as “the bloodstream of modern society,” Sani emphasized its importance in healthcare, education, agriculture, and industrialization. “Electricity powers hospitals and preserves vaccines, lights classrooms, drives industries, irrigates farms, and sustains the small businesses that form the backbone of our economy,” he added.

Since assuming office nearly three years ago, the governor noted, his administration has completed several previously abandoned projects while initiating new ones to expand access to electricity. In the health sector, solar mini-grid installations have been completed in 190 out of 225 Primary Health Care Centres, delivering 1.35 megawatts of clean energy. Thirty-two abandoned systems in PHCs and general hospitals were restored, improving service delivery and reducing maternal and child mortality.

Governor Sani also announced the completion of the long-abandoned 2x60MVA, 132/33kV substation at the Green Economic Zone in Maraban Jos, describing it as an “industrial catalyst” to attract investment and position Kaduna as a competitive economic hub.

In rural areas, the Damau solar project in Kubau LGA now delivers 100 kilowatts to about 450 households, ending a decade of darkness, while additional distributed generation projects totaling 1,694 kilowatts are underway in Chara, Gidan Kundi, Gora, and Hawan Mai Mashi.

The governor highlighted rehabilitation and transformer installation projects across all three senatorial zones, including Zaria, Sabon-Gari, Kudan, Kagarko, Manchok, Jaba, and along key high-tension corridors.

He also revealed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Rural Electrification Agency in October 2025, under which Kaduna Polytechnic will receive a 1.5-megawatt allocation, while Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, is set to benefit from 8 megawatts. Urban generation projects are also planned in TRAPCO, Shika, and Makarfi communities.

Governor Sani reiterated that expanding energy access is central to his administration’s strategy for inclusive development, economic growth, and improved quality of life across Kaduna State.