From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Niger State residents will begin to enjoy steady supply of electricity if the partnership between the state and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) is anything to go by.
The initiative, code name: “Light Up Niger 2024” would be a collaboration between the state government and AEDC to ensure a steady power supply to Nigerlites.
This was brought to the fore when the Farmer Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago received the AEDC delegation led by its Chief Operations Officer, Engineer Chijioke Okwuokenye in Minna.
Farmer Governor Umaru Bago fondly called because of his massive interest and encouragement to farmers, described the initiative as a welcome development because Niger State is host to four hydro dams and the dams contribute about 60 per cent electricity in Nigeria.
He also observed that power supply is key to development especially as the state is moving into an industrialisation and processing zone.
The governor expressed optimism that the “Light Up Niger” project will also proffer solution to the metering challenge in the state.
Bago disclosed that the Electricity Act has been domesticated in the state and the Niger State Electricity Regulatory Commission (NSERC) has been created.
He further stated that the necessary paperwork for the regulatory commission will soon be completed so that the state can start generating and distributing its own power.
Okwuokenye explained that the “Light Up Niger” project when it takes off, 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.
Recently, the state government described as unacceptable the continuous erratic and epileptic power supply in the state. The situation improved immediately and has led to the “Light Up Niger” initiative.