The Kano State House of Assembly has revived the Kano State Electricity Bill 2026, setting the stage for a major overhaul of the State’s electricity sector as lawmakers seek to address decades of erratic power supply that has continued to hamper industrial production, commercial activities and household livelihoods across Kano.
The proposed legislation, which seeks to establish the Kano State Electricity Agency as the State’s electricity sector regulator, comes at a time when residents and businesses are grappling with persistent power outages, rising energy costs and increasing dependence on alternative sources of electricity.
The bill, which had been in abeyance for some years, was reintroduced and considered by the Committee of the Whole during plenary presided over by Jibril Ismail Falgore, Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, before receiving the lawmakers’ approval to proceed in the legislative process.
Speaking with journalists after the plenary, Lawan Hussaini, Majority Leader of the House, said the proposed legislation would create a legal framework for the establishment of the Kano State Electricity Agency, which would regulate electricity generation, transmission and distribution within the state in line with the constitutional amendments and the Electricity Act that now empower states to legislate on electricity matters.
He explained that once the bill received the assent of Abba Kabir Yusuf, Governor of Kano State, the agency would be headed by a Managing Director and supervised by a governing council whose members would serve a renewable three-year tenure.
According to Hussaini, the new agency is expected to unlock private sector investment by creating a transparent regulatory environment capable of attracting both local and international investors into electricity generation, distribution and renewable energy projects.
He said the legislation would also pave the way for independent power projects capable of supplying electricity to industrial clusters, commercial centres, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and rural communities that have long suffered unreliable power supply.
“The objective is to create an enabling environment for investors to participate actively in electricity generation and distribution while ensuring improved access to stable electricity for residents and businesses across Kano State,” he said.
The move represents one of the state’s most ambitious attempts to reposition its electricity sector following years of dependence on the national grid, whose frequent collapses and inadequate generation capacity have continued to undermine economic activities.
Kano, regarded as the commercial nerve centre of Northern Nigeria, hosts thousands of small and medium-scale enterprises, textile businesses, metal fabrication workshops, leather processing industries, agricultural processing firms and large markets whose operations depend heavily on reliable electricity.
However, unstable electricity supply has remained one of the biggest obstacles confronting businesses in the state.
For decades, manufacturers and artisans have complained that prolonged outages force them to rely almost entirely on diesel and petrol-powered generators, significantly increasing production costs and reducing competitiveness.
Industrial estates such as the Challawa Industrial Area, Sharada Industrial Estate and numerous manufacturing clusters have repeatedly identified inadequate electricity as one of the leading factors responsible for declining industrial productivity and factory closures.
Small businesses have been equally affected.
Cold room operators, welders, tailors, cybercafés, water vendors, barbers, bakeries, printing presses and information technology firms have all experienced mounting operating expenses because of unreliable public power supply.
Many households also endure prolonged blackouts that disrupt water supply, food preservation, healthcare services and children’s education, especially during periods of extreme heat.
The electricity challenge became even more pronounced in recent years following repeated national grid collapses that plunged Kano and several other states into darkness for hours and, in some cases, days.
Residents have also experienced periodic load shedding arising from transmission constraints, maintenance works and infrastructure failures.
Businesses estimate that they spend millions of naira annually on fuel and generator maintenance, costs that are ultimately transferred to consumers through higher prices of goods and services.
Ola Banabas, a Kano-based business analyst, believes that improving electricity supply could significantly boost Kano’s economy by attracting fresh investments, supporting industrial revival and creating employment opportunities for thousands of young people.
The reintroduction of the Electricity Bill therefore aligns with the broader national push towards decentralising electricity regulation, allowing individual states to establish independent electricity markets and develop power infrastructure tailored to their local needs.
Energy experts have argued that the State-backed electricity agencies can facilitate investments in renewable energy projects, embedded generation systems and mini-grids capable of complementing supply from the national grid.
If successfully implemented, Kano could leverage its large market, strategic location and growing industrial base to become one of Nigeria’s leading sub-national electricity markets.
Beyond the electricity reform bill, the Assembly also turned its attention to growing concerns over the destruction of electricity infrastructure in parts of the state.
Lawmakers adopted a motion of urgent public importance over the vandalisation of electricity installations in Madobi Local Government Area.
Presenting the motion, Mukhtar Ishaq, member representing Madobi Constituency, expressed concern over the recurring destruction of electrical cables and other power facilities, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
He warned that the continued vandalism has worsened electricity outages in affected communities while increasing the financial burden of replacing damaged infrastructure.
Ishaq urged the State Government, electricity authorities and security agencies to intensify surveillance around critical electricity installations and ensure that those responsible for vandalising public infrastructure are identified, arrested and prosecuted.
He noted that protecting electricity assets is essential if government investments in the sector are to yield meaningful benefits for residents.
The House subsequently referred the motion to its Standing Committee on Electricity for detailed investigation.
The committee has been mandated to examine the circumstances surrounding the repeated vandalism, engage relevant stakeholders and submit its findings and recommendations to the Assembly within one month.
The latest legislative initiative underscores Kano’s determination to take advantage of emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s evolving electricity sector.
Industry observers say the success of the proposed agency will ultimately depend on effective implementation, transparent regulation, adequate funding and sustained collaboration between government, private investors and electricity service providers.
Should the bill become law, Kano would join the growing number of states seeking to exercise their constitutional powers to independently regulate electricity, attract investment and expand access to reliable power.
For a State whose economic fortunes have long been constrained by chronic electricity shortages, the proposed legislation offers renewed hope that sustained reforms could help restore industrial growth, improve the ease of doing business and enhance the quality of life for millions of residents.
