WAFCON 2026Q: Ihezuo, Okoronkwo Inspire Super Falcons’ Win Over Benin Republic
The Super Falcons of Nigeria defeated Benin Republic 2-0 in the first leg of their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture at the Stade de Kegue on Friday, reports Completesports.com.
Nigeria dominated the opening exchanges with captain Rasheedat Ajibade hitting the woodwork in the seventh minute.
The home team’s goalkeeper also made a couple of big saves to deny Justine Madugu’s side.
Chiwendu Ihezuo opened scoring for the Super Falcons in the 24th minute.
The Pachuca of Mexico striker slotted the ball into the net after she was set up by a superb pass from Deborah Abiodun.
The Super Falcons continued the pressure afterwards with the hosts standing firm at the back.
Esther Okoronkwo doubled Nigeria’s advantage late in the first half with Abiodun also providing the assist.
Nigeria dominated the second half but failed to add to their two-goal lead.
Both teams will clash in the second leg at the Moshood Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta next week Tuesday.
We are delighted to welcome the Stellar Steel Company Limited, a $450 million investment by Galaxy Group and RSIN Group from Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China, to Ogun State. This major industrial project is on course to commence operations by mid-2026 and will produce hot-rolled coil steel, iron steel doors, and gas cylinders, thereby contributing significantly to reducing Nigeria’s steel import bill.
During a courtesy visit to our office, the Vice Chairman of RSIN Group, Mr. You Xiaotan, affirmed that the project is progressing smoothly, with levelling and foundation works already completed. We appreciate this update and commend their commitment to delivering on schedule.
As a government, we remain committed to sustaining an environment that encourages industrial growth and foreign investment. Our recent sister-state partnership with Shandong Province continues to yield positive outcomes by attracting more Chinese investors who believe in the strength of Ogun State’s economy.
We reaffirm our support for Stellar Steel Company and other investors through efficient approval processes, issuance of Certificates of Occupancy, and facilitation of necessary waivers and incentives. Every new investment validates our resolve to keep Ogun State as Nigeria’s industrial capital, creating jobs, boosting productivity, and driving shared prosperity for our people.
In March 2023 President Muhammadu Buhari signed a constitutional ammendment bill into law and part of the ammendments was that states could generate, transmit and distribute electricity in places that were covered by the National Grid.
In June 2023, President Tinubu signed an ammendment to the Electricity Act into law. The new law allows states to issue licenses to companies to generate, transmit and distribute electricity within their states. The law says that the states must first enact a law to regulate electricity generation, transmission and distribution before they can take over the regulatory functions of the NERC.
The Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, PhD, CON, alongside his counterparts the Governor of Kano State, Engr. @Kyusufabba , and the Governor of Jigawa State, Malam Umar A. Namadi observed the Friday Jumu’ah prayer together in the Kingdom of Morocco on Friday, October 17, 2025.
Northwest governors bet N50bn on Nigeria’s first tri-state electricity market
Nigeria’s northwestern states of Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa have teamed up to create the country’s first regional electricity market, pledging an initial N50 billion investment to boost power generation and expand access for millions of people across the region.
The initiative, unveiled after a weekend summit in Marrakech, Morocco, marks an unprecedented collaboration between subnational governments and private investors in Nigeria’s struggling power sector. It also signals growing regional momentum to harness opportunities created by the 2023 Electricity Act, which liberalised the sector and empowered states to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity within their territories.
Under the agreement, the three states will acquire equity stakes in Future Energies Africa (FEA), the core investor in Kano Electricity Distribution Company (Kano DisCo), in a move designed to align local political and economic interests with the utility’s performance and long-term reform goals.
The deal was sealed after a electrification Summit held from October 16–19 in Marrakech, attended by the governors, Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano, Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina, and Umar Namadi of Jigawa, alongside senior government officials, energy regulators, and global consultants.
Sani Sani, head, corporate communications at Kano DisCo said Kano, Katsina and Jigawa will collaborate with Kano DisCo to reduce losses from residential consumers to allow supply to improve to citizens in the States.
“FEA and State representatives will convene annual international retreat and meet quarterly (and as required) to review progress, set direction, and strengthen ties for North-western tri-state electricity market,” Sani said.
Central to the plan is a N50 billion tri-state electrification fund, to be launched as a public-private vehicle targeting renewable energy, embedded generation, solar home systems, and mini-grids. The fund aims to catalyze rapid power access to households and small industries across the three states, home to nearly 40 million people combined.
The fund’s first phase will prioritise rural communities and industrial clusters in Kano’s Sharada and Bompai zones, Katsina’s Dutsin-Ma corridor, and Jigawa’s Gumel axis, according to people familiar with the discussions.
“This partnership is a defining step in our collective journey toward energy independence and economic transformation,” a senior official from Kano DisCo told BusinessDay. “By aligning state ownership with private investment, the tri-state model ensures that the interests of both the citizens and investors are represented.”
The plan builds on the operational turnaround strategy initiated by FEA after it took over Kano DisCo in 2022. Since then, the firm has sought to reposition the distribution company, which covers the largest franchise area in Nigeria, through technology upgrades, renewable integration, and stronger collaboration with state governments.
The partnership is expected to serve as a model for regional power markets in Nigeria. Under the Electricity Act, states can establish their own electricity markets and regulatory frameworks. By forming a joint tri-state electricity ecosystem, the three Northwest governments plan to harmonise regulations, pool investments, and jointly plan power infrastructure that cuts across state lines.
The arrangement will also enable joint regulation in areas where cooperation is beneficial such as tariffs, cross-border mini-grids, and shared generation assets.
“This is the first time we’re seeing a coordinated subnational electricity market in Nigeria,” said an industry analyst familiar with the project. “It’s a pragmatic way to achieve economies of scale in generation and distribution while ensuring that local priorities are not lost in national policy debates.”
Beyond expanding access, the governors agreed to collaborate with Kano DisCo to address one of the utility’s most persistent challenges, high energy losses from unmetered and non-paying residential customers. The partnership aims to accelerate metering rollout and community-based billing reforms that can improve revenue recovery and service reliability.
BusinessDay’s finding showed Future Energies Africa, which specializes in distributed renewable projects, will serve as both technical partner and investment coordinator for the tri-state market. The company’s executives said the Marrakech summit has established a governance framework for periodic reviews — including quarterly meetings and an annual international retreat — to assess progress and attract new investors.
“This is a long-term bet on the economic future of the Northwest,” said an FEA representative. “Our goal is to create a power ecosystem that can compete with any region in the country — anchored on renewables, strong regulation, and state participation.”
The collaboration also received backing from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, which has been pushing for subnational power markets since the enactment of the new Electricity Act.
Commissioner Akpeneye, who attended the summit, commended the states for taking initiative, noting that “regional markets like this will redefine Nigeria’s electricity future.”
Unlocking the north’s energy potential
Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa occupy a combined landmass larger than Ghana and have among the lowest per capita power consumption in Nigeria. Yet they also hold vast renewable potential, particularly in solar and wind energy.
With average daily sunshine exceeding 6.5 hours and large stretches of undeveloped land, the region could become a hub for solar farms, battery storage, and hybrid microgrids. Analysts say the tri-state fund could help unlock these opportunities by providing seed financing and risk-sharing instruments to local developers.
Beyond the technical aspects, the deal underscores a shift toward greater state ownership of Nigeria’s energy future. For years, subnational governments have complained about limited influence over power distribution companies that serve their regions. By taking direct equity stakes in FEA, the three governors are betting that local participation will drive accountability, improve service delivery, and deepen industrial competitiveness.
“This is not just about power — it’s about development, jobs, and dignity,” one participant at the summit said. “When states have skin in the game, they can no longer blame Abuja for darkness.”
Among the attendees were the speakers of Katsina and Jigawa State Assemblies, commissioners for power from Kano and Jigawa, and the attorney general of Jigawa State. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) was represented by commissioner Dafe C. Akpeneye, underscoring federal support for the initiative.
Future Energies Africa was represented by its chairman, Najib J.A. Koguna, along with board members Ahmad Rufai Zakari, OON, Habib Daura Ahmed, and Engr. Yusuf Usman Yahaya.
Also present were Adamu Gumel, Kano DisCo chairman, and Abubakar Jimeta, its managing director. Advisory teams from DLA Piper, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and BlackAion Capital joined the discussions, lending technical and financial expertise.
Sports › Re: Nigeria Beats Benin Republic 2-0 In WAFCON Qualifier by naptu2(op): 3:07am On Oct 25, 2025*. Modified: 5:09am On Oct 25, 2025
