Residents of Ringim Local Government Area in Jigawa State have expressed joy and renewed hope following the connection of the town to the Gagarawa National Grid, ending decades of erratic power supply.
The connection, carried out by Gov. Umar Namadi, has brought relief to residents who, for many years, endured prolonged electricity outages that crippled businesses and affected living standards in the area.
Speaking to Kano Times on Sunday, residents recalled that Ringim often went weeks—and sometimes months—without electricity, forcing households and business owners to rely on expensive generators and alternative power sources.
They said successive administrations made efforts to address the problem, including during the tenure of former Gov. Sule Lamido, when Ringim was connected to Dutse as an alternative power source.
“That intervention brought temporary relief, but the improvement did not last, as the town soon returned to prolonged power outages,” a resident said.
Kano Times reports that calls for Ringim’s connection to the Gagarawa National Grid intensified after the project was completed, with community development associations leading sustained advocacy during the administration of former Gov. Muhammad Badaru Abubakar.
Despite the extension of the national grid to parts of the Gumel axis, including Babura Local Government Area, the connection to Ringim did not materialise at the time.
Hope, however, was rekindled when the agitation reached the then Deputy Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, who publicly pledged to resolve the power challenge if given the opportunity.
Two years after assuming office as governor, the promise was fulfilled on Jan. 1, 2026—a date residents described as historic.
A drinks seller, Malam Musa, told *Kano Times* that the development had transformed his business.
“I cannot remember the last time we enjoyed uninterrupted electricity for up to 12 hours in the past 30 years,” he said.
“With this steady power supply, my operating costs will reduce because I will no longer depend heavily on generators,” Musa added.
Similarly, a welder, Malam Kabiru, said the lack of stable electricity had crippled his trade for years.
“Because of limited capital, I could not cope with the cost of running generators,” he said.
“This new power supply will allow me to work more efficiently, expand my business, and improve my livelihood.”
Residents also commended the Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, Hon. Surajo Musa, for his role in ensuring the successful completion of the project.
While celebrating the achievement, the people of Ringim appealed to Gov. Namadi to address other challenges facing the town.
“These include finding a lasting solution to the Rafin Kainuwa pond problem, which causes destruction and displacement during the rainy season,” a community leader said.
Other demands raised by residents include the construction of additional township roads, particularly in Nasarawa Quarter and the main town, the dualisation of Unity Road, and the completion of the Emir’s Palace Road.
