Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria has signed the State’s Electricity Bill into law, describing it as a major step towards economic growth.
Gatekeepers News reports that Mbah said this will enable the government to participate in the electrical industry value chain and make the state the top location for business, tourism, investment, and lifestyle.
The Governor claimed that without a sufficient and reliable power supply, his administration’s goal of growing the economy of Enugu State from $4.4 billion to $30 billion would be a pipe dream.
He pointed out that the quest was what necessitated the Electricity Bill which was sent to the House of Assembly about two weeks ago.
Mbah said, “Following the Constitutional Amendment and the Electricity Act of 2023, electricity is now on the concurrent list.
“So, Enugu State has spared no time in making sure that we create our own electricity market. That is the crux of this law.
“We are now able to play in the generation, transmission, and distribution segments of the electricity market.”
He stated that the regulatory commission will be able to control the operations of these actors, including the generating, transmission, and distribution firms that will result from it.
Mbah argued that if energy or power is not available, discussions concerning the industry or private sector investment cannot proceed.
The governor equally commended the leadership of the House of Assembly for the expeditious passage of the Bill and for their partnership with the government across party lines for the good of Enugu State.
The signing was witnessed by the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ezenta Ezeani; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kingsley Udeh; the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, among other state functionaries.
