Niger Domesticates Electricity Act, Creates Electricity Regulatory Commission

•Abuja Disco, state govt partner to improve power supply to residents, businesses

Laleye Dipo in Minna and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

Niger State government yesterday, announced that it has domesticated the Electricity Act leading to the creation of an Electricity Regulatory Commission.

This comes just as the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and the Niger State Government also disclosed that they have initiated a special project aimed at improving electricity supply to residents and businesses in the northern state.

Governor Umaru Bago, who disclosed this in Minna, during a meeting with the Abuja Electricity Distribution Agency Mr. Chijioke Okwuokenye at the Government House, Minna, said the necessary documentations for the Regulatory Commission would soon be completed for it to start generating and distributing its own power in the state.

Bago, noted that the step taken by the administration was because of the realisation that power supply was key to development especially now that the State was moving into an industrialisation and processing age.

However, before the takeoff of the Commission, Bago has entered into an initiative that would improve the electricity supply to residents of Niger State.

The Chief Operating Officer of AEDC, Mr Chijioke Okwuokenye explained that the, “Light Up Niger” project when commenced will pave way for greater things to come as the whole scope is to come up with the best measures that will improve and sustain electricity supply to Niger State.”

He commended the support of the Bago-led administration through the supply of transformers to communities, saying that the private sector needs such support for survival and assured that the Company is willing to continue to partner with the State Government for the desired result.

The initiative, code named, ‘Light Up Niger 2024’, as revealed by AEDC in a statement, would be a collaboration between the Niger State government and the distribution company to ensure steady power supply to the State.

Bago described the initiative as a welcome development because Niger State plays host to four hydro dams that contribute about 60 per cent electricity generated in Nigeria.

He expressed optimism that the Light Up Niger project would also proffer solution to the metering challenge in the state.

Bago, disclosed that the Electricity Act has been domesticated in the State, adding that the Niger State Electricity Regulatory Commission has been created.

He further stated that the necessary paperwork for the Regulatory Commission would soon be completed so that the State would be able to start generating and distributing its own power.