Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, has urged states to become involved in the country’s power distribution and supply.
He made this statement on Wednesday during a meeting with the Forum of Commissioners of Energy, which is made up of the country’s energy commissioners.
“When each of the States starts getting involved, there would be healthy rivalry akin to what we used to have in the days of regional government,” the minister was quoted in a statement by his media aide, Bolaji Tunji.
Adelabu drew attention to Abia State where Geometrics Power Limited has established a 188 megawatts power generating plant supplying and distributing power to between seven and eight local government areas in the state.
He said, “They enjoy 24 hours power supply, this is what we want states to also adopt, it might look difficult, but with tenacity and if we endure, it is achievable”, he said.
The minister also reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling the nation’s power challenges.
“We are poised to address the root cause of the electricity challenge. We have done enough diagnostics, we know the cause of the problem, we are now in the implementation stage,”
“We have realised that in the past, temporary solution were applied to the challenges without dealing with the root cause.”
Adelabu said efforts are put in place to address the challenges in the sector, urging Nigerians to be patient with the Federal Government.
He said that the government has acquired about 10 mobile power substations that could be moved to places where there are challenges or disruption due to fault on the substation, advising state governments to get involved in distribution networks in their States and also bridging the meter gap.
“You can always call on me to intervene, I will stand by you and I know once the States start to perform and take up further responsibilities, it means I have also performed.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Forum who is also the Commissioner of Power and Energy, Cross River State, Prince Eka Williams re-affirmed unflinching support towards the outstanding visions, ideas and the electricity reforms of the Federal Government.
He said that the Electricity Act has given the States the responsibility of running the affairs of electricity in the state.