Power Minister Calls for State Involvement in Electricity Distribution

Nigeria’s Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, urged state governments to participate more actively in improving the country’s electricity supply. He made this call at a forum with energy commissioners from various states.

Key Points:

• State Involvement: Adelabu believes states, which already own 40% of shares in electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos), should collaborate with the Ministry of Finance and DisCos to capitalize on their investment and potentially influence management decisions.
• Addressing Gaps: He emphasized the need for states to address un-served and under-served areas, and weak infrastructure within their domains, as they are best placed to understand local needs and hold stakeholders accountable.
• Collaboration for Improvement: Adelabu sees state involvement as crucial to strengthen collaboration with the federal government and achieve consistent power supply across the nation. He assured commissioners of his support and encouraged healthy competition among states to improve their performance in the sector.
• Lessons from Success: He cited the example of Abia State’s successful 188MW power plant project, providing 24/7 electricity to several local government areas, as a model for other states to replicate with dedication and perseverance.
• Addressing Immediate Needs: The minister also revealed the government’s acquisition of mobile power substations to be deployed in areas facing power disruptions due to substation faults.
• State Commissioners’ Response: The forum chairman, representing Cross River State, pledged state commissioners’ unwavering support for the federal government’s vision and reforms in the electricity sector. He emphasized the states’ readiness to collaborate and address the existing challenges.

Overall, the call for state involvement signifies a shift towards a more collaborative approach to tackling Nigeria’s long-standing electricity challenges.