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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Bayelsa state has made significant progress towards guaranteeing steady power supply in the state with the signing of the Electricity Bill into law by the state governor, Douye Diri. This development provides relief for many Bayelsans that have been at the receiving end of incessant power supply in the state.
Aside communities which are being serviced by gas turbine operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company, residents of Yenagoa, the state capital spent the Christmas holidays in darkness
Governor Douye Diri while assenting to the bill directed the Managing Director of the state Electricity Board, Olice Kemenanabo to ensure that the state sets up its electricity outfit to not only generate and distribute but also commercialise power.
He said with the liberalization of electricity by the federal government, the state now has the authority to generate, distribute and commercialize electricity even to neighbouring states. The governor described the signing into law of the electricity bill as historic, noting that hitherto electricity generation, distribution and commercialization was on the Exclusive List of the federal government.
He also directed Kemenanabo to issue licences to private investors interested in the sector as Bayelsa was endowed with gas, which is the primary resource.
