Federal Government launches a 7.5MVA electricity substation and new power lines in Rigasa, raising hopes of reliable electricity for households and businesses after nearly 15 years of inadequate supply.
October 27, 2026 | Kaduna State, Nigeria
The Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) has commenced a major electricity infrastructure project in Rigasa, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, in an effort to address nearly 15 years of inadequate power supply. The intervention involves constructing a 7.5-megavolt-ampere injection substation and new electricity distribution lines designed to improve supply to homes and businesses. Kaduna State Deputy Governor Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe performed the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, October 23, 2026, on behalf of Governor Uba Sani. The project represents a significant development for the community, although actual electricity restoration will depend on construction, testing and successful connection to the distribution network.
According to NDPHC, the project includes a two-kilometre 11-kilovolt distribution line, a 1.5-kilometre 33-kilovolt line and a 7.5MVA, 33/11kV injection substation. The 33kV line will provide a higher-voltage connection to the facility, while the substation will step down electricity to 11kV for distribution through the local network. This infrastructure is intended to strengthen electricity delivery, reduce network constraints and expand the capacity available to consumers. The equipment does not generate electricity independently but allows power received from the wider network to be distributed more effectively. Its performance will therefore depend on the availability of upstream supply, the condition of connecting infrastructure and arrangements for ongoing operation and maintenance.
The groundbreaking ceremony brought together federal and state officials, electricity industry representatives and traditional leaders. Balarabe described the intervention as an important response to a longstanding infrastructure problem, saying improved electricity supply would encourage business activities and reduce hardship among residents. She reaffirmed the Kaduna State Government’s commitment to working with federal institutions and other stakeholders on projects that support economic development. The state government identified small and medium-sized businesses, traders, artisans and other electricity consumers as potential beneficiaries. For these groups, improved power availability could make it easier to operate equipment, preserve products and conduct business beyond daylight hours. However, those benefits will depend on the reliability and affordability of electricity once the project becomes operational.
The intervention follows sustained advocacy by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group (BAT-IG), which brought Rigasa’s electricity challenges to the attention of NDPHC management. The group’s convener, Bamidele Atoyebi, reportedly engaged the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Adighije, over the community’s prolonged power difficulties. NDPHC subsequently committed to developing the electricity infrastructure in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government. Although a political support group helped facilitate the intervention, the project is being implemented through a government-owned electricity company. This distinction is important for establishing institutional responsibility for construction, expenditure, commissioning and subsequent management of the facilities.
Adighije, represented at the ceremony by NDPHC Executive Director of Networks Bello Babayo Bello, said the company remained committed to improving electricity access in underserved communities. She explained that although NDPHC is primarily associated with electricity generation, its activities also include interventions in transmission and distribution infrastructure where weaknesses prevent consumers from receiving adequate supply. The Rigasa project illustrates that approach by targeting facilities needed to deliver electricity rather than constructing an additional generating plant. NDPHC’s strategy reflects a wider challenge in Nigeria’s power sector, where electricity generated at power stations may not reach consumers reliably because of insufficient distribution capacity, damaged infrastructure and other operational constraints.
For residents and businesses in Rigasa, the consequences of prolonged electricity shortages extend beyond the inconvenience of living without dependable lighting. Small enterprises such as tailoring shops, welding businesses, barbing salons, cold-storage operators and food vendors often require regular electricity to operate efficiently. Where grid supply is unavailable or unreliable, such businesses may depend on generators, rechargeable batteries or solar installations, adding to operating expenses. Households can face similar difficulties with food preservation, studying after dark and charging essential devices. Improved electricity infrastructure could reduce dependence on alternative energy sources and support local employment, but the extent of any financial savings cannot yet be established because the project has not been commissioned and no household-level impact assessment has been publicly disclosed.
The Rigasa intervention also highlights Nigeria’s longstanding electricity access challenges. According to the World Bank’s electricity access data, approximately 62.5 percent of Nigeria’s population had access to electricity in 2024, meaning a substantial proportion remained unconnected. Access, however, does not necessarily guarantee reliable supply, since households connected to the national grid may still experience frequent outages. Nigeria has pursued several programmes intended to improve the situation, including the Nigeria Electrification Project, which reported providing new electricity access to more than 5.9 million underserved Nigerians by December 2024. More recently, the $750 million Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up programme was established to support new or improved electricity access through renewable energy solutions. The Rigasa project differs from those decentralised initiatives because it focuses on strengthening conventional distribution infrastructure.
The construction also raises questions about how Nigeria can improve electricity infrastructure while ensuring that public investments deliver measurable results. NDPHC has not publicly disclosed the project’s total cost, its funding breakdown or a firm completion date in the official announcement and reports reviewed. There is also no confirmed figure for the number of households expected to receive improved supply once the facility is commissioned. These details are relevant because a groundbreaking ceremony establishes that a project has been formally launched, not that electricity has begun flowing to consumers. Clear construction milestones, transparent procurement information, technical testing and public communication will be necessary to assess progress. Residents will also need clarification on connection arrangements, expected service reliability and the distribution company’s responsibilities after commissioning.
Several stakeholders at the ceremony expressed support for the project. Rigasa District Head Mohammed Aminu Idris commended NDPHC for responding to the community’s electricity needs, while the company’s Executive Director of Strategy and Commercial, Patrick Obahiagbon, thanked the Kaduna State Government and local residents for their cooperation. Other participants included former Senator Shehu Sani and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company Managing Director Umar Abubakar Hashidu. Their involvement highlights the need for coordination between the infrastructure developer, the electricity distributor, local authorities and community representatives. While government officials have expressed confidence in the project, its eventual success will be assessed through practical outcomes, including the completion of the facilities, the availability of electricity and improvements experienced by consumers.
As construction begins, attention will turn to the timetable for completing the injection substation and associated distribution lines, as well as the arrangements for connecting customers. The project offers an opportunity to improve electricity supply in a community that has endured nearly 15 years of serious power difficulties, but its full benefits remain prospective. Consistent electricity could improve household welfare, support commercial activities and reduce some of the costs associated with unreliable supply. For Rigasa residents, the most meaningful milestone will not be the groundbreaking ceremony but the point at which completed infrastructure delivers dependable electricity to homes and businesses. Until then, the project remains an important commitment whose implementation, financing and eventual performance require continued public scrutiny.
