By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) says it has engaged the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and Haier Technologies—NDPHC’s development partners—who are collaborating on a 20MW embedded solar generation facility aimed at supporting vulnerable businesses in the Challawa area of Kano State.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer(MD/CEO) of the NDPHC), Engr Jennifer Adighije, disclosed this when she led a high-level management team on a site survey and assessment of the Challawa Industrial District in Kano.
Accompanying her were the Executive Director of Generation, Engr Kassim Abdulahi, and the Executive Director of Corporate Services, Engr Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama.
The team’s first stop was at the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), where they were received by the MD/CEO, Dr Abu Jimeta.
In the course of their discussions, both CEOs reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration in developing viable models to enhance electricity access in Kano and its environs.
The joint visit also had representatives from NASENI and Haier Technologies, according to a statement signed by
Emmanuel Ojor, the head, Corporate Communications and External Relations, NDPHC.
Speaking during a meeting with business owners in Challawa, Engr Adighije described the visit as both significant and emotional, noting the critical role the industrial area plays in national revenue generation and socio-economic development.
“It is a pleasure to be at the Challawa Industrial Area. This is a very important and emotional visit,” she said. “I recall that on December 7th last year, the Chairman of our board and Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, visited Challawa. Before he even returned to Abuja, he called and gave us a directive to show our presence here by providing an alternative source of electricity to the area,” Engr Adighije said.
Addressing the delay between the Vice President’s directive and the current visit, she explained: “You may wonder why it took us from December until now. It took us a few months to come because I engaged development partners to come up with a cost effective solution that would offer affordable tariffs for the Challawa community.”
Engr Adighije noted that NDPHC engaged NASENI and Haier Technologies to develop a project framework that leverages Kano’s abundant solar potential to deliver reliable, renewable, and affordable electricity to businesses in Challawa.
“I was emotional seeing businesses with the capacity to generate revenue and drive economic growth suffer losses simply due to a lack of affordable electricity. We must turn our solar potential into actionable solutions that unlock opportunities, boost productivity, and serve the greater good of all Nigerians,” she noted.
Highlighting the broader national context, she added: “The output of the manufacturing sector should directly translate into job creation, wealth generation, and poverty reduction. Kano is symbolic and strategic to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.”
She assured business owners that NDPHC and its partners were fully committed to deploying embedded solutions that would significantly benefit manufacturers in the area.
As a generation company, NDPHC primarily supplies power from its gas-fired plants to the national grid. However, with the power market now transitioning to a bilateral trading structure, Engr Adighije explained that the company is able to sell directly to off-takers, distribution companies, or registered buyer groups.
“As an association, you can come together to register a trading company and purchase electricity directly from NDPHC. “You can be assured that our electricity pricing will be highly competitive—better than what is currently available from distribution companies,” the MD said.