Manufacturers under the Kano branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have expressed readiness to bypass traditional utility companies and procure electricity directly from the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC). This move is aimed at addressing the persistent power shortages crippling industrial productivity in the state.
During a recent visit to the NDPHC headquarters, a 20-member delegation from MAN Kano, led by the Managing Director of Dala Foods, Ali Madugu, formally requested access to the company’s Eligible Customer Programme, which allows for direct electricity sales to bulk consumers under regulatory approval.
“Our members have both the capacity and the willingness to procure power directly from NDPHC. Access to reliable electricity is critical for reviving industries and sustaining jobs in Kano State,” Madugu said.
Responding to the request, Jennifer Adighije, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, assured the delegation of the company’s willingness to collaborate with the manufacturing sector to support industrial growth, job creation, and broader socio-economic development.
“We are committed to partnering with the manufacturing sector. Within the provisions of the Eligible Customer framework, we are ready to work with MAN in Kano to make this happen,” Adighije said in a statement released on Sunday.
She further noted that NDPHC’s improved plant availability and recent rehabilitation of key facilities—such as the Omotosho and Alaoji power plants—have positioned the company to ramp up supply and meet off-taker demand once regulatory greenlight is granted.
Adighije also lamented the “abysmally low uptake of electricity” by distribution companies, which has contributed to NDPHC’s operational constraints. She reiterated the company’s plan to commercialise 200 megawatts of its stranded 2,000 megawatts of power generation by the end of 2025.
Supporting the engagement, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Executive Director of Corporate Services, Commercial and Strategy, and Bello Babayo Bello, Executive Director of Networks, presented a detailed roadmap to help MAN Kano tap into NDPHC’s power supply opportunities under the eligible customer regime.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both parties expressing optimism about forging a mutually beneficial partnership to unlock Kano’s industrial potential.
