Kano State is moving to end the era of industrial blackouts by opening its doors to aggressive private-sector investment. In a high-level stakeholder meeting in the Dakata industrial quarters, the Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, Dr. Gaddafi Sani Shehu, unveiled a roadmap to transform Kano into an energy-secure hub for SMEs and large-scale industries.
The meeting focused on a strategic partnership with Slash Power, a key player in the renewable sector, to optimize distribution and bridge the massive energy deficit currently stifling local productivity.
The Industrial Rescue Plan
For Kano’s small and medium enterprises, energy isn’t just a utility—it’s a survival factor. Commissioner Shehu emphasized that the state’s role is shifting from a sole provider to a “market enabler,” creating the regulatory environment needed for private firms to generate and distribute power directly to industrial clusters.
Key Pillars of the 2026 Energy Strategy:
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Grid Optimization: Upgrading aging infrastructure in industrial quarters like Dakata and Challawa to reduce transmission losses.
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Renewable Integration: Collaborating with investors like Slash Power to deploy large-scale solar and hydro solutions that provide a cleaner, more reliable alternative to the national grid.
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SME Empowerment: Ensuring that power distribution is “productivity-focused,” prioritizing businesses that drive job creation and local manufacturing.
The Power of Partnership
The discussions revealed a consensus that the government can no longer do it alone. The meeting explored:
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Industrial Micro-Grids: Allowing private producers to set up localized grids that serve specific business quarters.
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Public-Private Collaboration: Leveraging the state’s new Electricity Policy to attract global expertise and capital into Kano’s power market.
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Sustainability: Focusing on long-term energy solutions that can withstand macroeconomic shocks.
The Bottom Line
Kano State is signaling that it is “open for business.” By inviting private power producers like Slash Power to the table, the government is betting that decentralized, renewable energy is the key to unlocking the state’s full industrial potential.
As Commissioner Shehu put it: “A reliable electricity supply is the lifeblood of our industries. We are building the infrastructure today so our businesses can lead the economy tomorrow.”
