The Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group (BAT-IG), Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC), and the Kaduna State Government have officially commenced the construction of a 7.5MVA 33/11kV injection substation in Rigasa, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The project, which also includes a two-kilometre 11kV distribution line and a 1.5-kilometre 33kV line, is designed to address the community's longstanding electricity challenges, which have persisted for approximately 15 years.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Led by Deputy Governor
The groundbreaking ceremony was held in Rigasa on Friday, with Deputy Governor Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe performing the event on behalf of Governor Uba Sani. The intervention, facilitated by BAT-IG and implemented by NDPHC in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government, aims to strengthen the electricity distribution network and improve power supply to households, businesses, and other users in the densely populated community.
Speaking at the ceremony, Balarabe said that improved electricity supply would support business expansion, enhance productivity, and reduce the burden on households. She also stated that the state government would continue to pursue infrastructure development through strategic partnerships.
Addressing 15 Years of Power Shortages
The project comes amid longstanding electricity challenges in Rigasa, where residents have reportedly endured inadequate power supply for about 15 years. The Convener of BAT-IG, Comrade Bamidele Atoyebi, said the intervention followed concerns raised by residents and reflected the group's commitment to translating political participation into tangible community development.
Atoyebi emphasized that the group believed political engagement should extend beyond campaigns and electoral mobilisation to include practical solutions to challenges affecting communities. He was quoted as saying, "When you identify a problem, you do not simply talk about it, you find a solution to it."
BAT-IG's Broader Impact and Project Benefits
Atoyebi noted that BAT-IG had facilitated more than 100 interventions across different sectors, describing the Rigasa project as another step in its efforts to address community needs. He added, "Where there is a problem, we can help solve it. We will not merely complain about it. We will organise, mobilise and act."
The Executive Director, Networks, NDPHC, Engr Bello Babayo Bello, represented the company's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr Jennifer Adighije, at the ceremony. Also present were the Executive Director, Strategy and Commercial, NDPHC, Hon Patrick Obahiagbon, and the District Head of Rigasa, Arc Mohammed Aminu Idris. Other dignitaries included the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, who is the Grand Patron of BAT-IG, and Senator Abu Ibrahim. Adeniyi Tinubu, Deputy Director, Logistics and Operations of the All Progressives Congress 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, was also among those recognised at the event.
Atoyebi said the project's expected benefits went beyond improved electricity supply to include expanded economic opportunities, stronger businesses, improved security, and better livelihoods. He described the intervention as an example of what he termed "the politics of service" and "the politics of solution," adding that it represented BAT-IG's contribution to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.
Expected Impact on Rigasa Community
The project is expected to provide additional distribution capacity for Rigasa, with residents and businesses awaiting improved access to more reliable electricity as work progresses. The initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance power infrastructure in the region, with the new substation set to bolster the local grid and reduce the frequency of outages that have hampered economic activities and daily life in the community.
