Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal Joins Northern Leaders at London Energy Summit to Advance Regional Power Infrastructure and Investment

Governor Dauda Lawal advocates for regional energy investment at the London Energy Summit, focusing on the 2023 Electricity Act and Zamfara's solar initiatives.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 2, 2026, 5:16 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Nation Newspaper

A Strategic International Forum for Northern Energy

In a high-level effort to address the chronic power challenges facing Northern Nigeria, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State attended the Kaduna Electric Franchise Energy Summit in London, United Kingdom, on Wednesday. Held under the theme "Driving Energy Investment and Regional Development," the summit served as a critical platform for sub-national leaders to engage with international investors and energy experts. Governor Lawal was joined by Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State and Governor Nasiru Idris of Kebbi State, signaling a unified regional approach to unlocking the economic potential of the Kaduna Electric franchise area.

Leveraging the 2023 Electricity Act

A primary focus of the London summit was the operationalization of Nigeria’s 2023 Electricity Act, which grants state governments expanded regulatory powers to oversee their own energy markets. The Zamfara delegation, which included the Secretary to the State Government and heads of the state’s investment and electrification agencies, explored strategic pathways to exercise these new constitutional rights. By establishing independent state-level governance for electricity, the Lawal administration aims to improve market efficiency and create a "plug-and-play" environment for private sector players interested in generation, distribution, and grid management.

Renewable Energy and Rural Electrification Mandates

Under the leadership of Governor Lawal, Zamfara has pivoted toward a decentralized energy model with a heavy emphasis on sustainability. The administration recently established the Zamfara Electrification Agency, which is tasked with bridging the energy gap in both urban centers and underserved rural communities. Key milestones highlighted during the summit included the successful installation of a 70KW solar mini-grid in Gidan Mai Dawa and a comprehensive statewide transformer deployment program. These initiatives are being executed in collaboration with the Federal Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to ensure that renewable infrastructure is both scalable and maintainable.