Power: Commissioner solicits stakeholders’ input in making viable A’Ibom Electricity Law
The State Ministry of Power have concluded a sensitisation meeting with a call on major stakeholders in the power sector to come out with a legal frame work that will be of immense benefit to investors and electricity consumers in the State.
The State Commissioner for Power, Engr Camillus Umoh handed down the charge yesterday in Uyo during the sensitisation meeting on the proposed Akwa Ibom State Electricity Legislation.
The State Government is proposing a law to establish the State’s electricity regulatory commission a well as electricity council to regulate electricity generation, distribution and sales.
The proposed bill, when passed into law, will not only promote access to electricity, but will increase private sector investments as well as public private sector partnership, inline with the government’s desire to enhance power supply to the citizens of the State.
Setting the ball rolling, the Commissioner said players in the electricity value chain should be fully protected and empowered by the proposed law.
“This season is essentially to sensitise us and tease our scenario participation viz a viz the State Legislation under development” Engr Umoh hinted.
Speaking further, the Commissioner said the bill mustn’t be in conflict with the 2023 Electricity Act that was recently signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, or “be wobbly in our legal draughting and not setting clear boundaries and role play”.
Engr Umoh explained further that the new bill shouldn’t be unintentionally and unnecessarily restrictive as to make the market unattractive to investors among other players.
According to him, “Our success putting up and operationalizing this bill will substantially determine the attractiveness of our electricity space with others” while anticipating a healthy competition from others.
Making presentation at the meeting which attracted the Deputy General Manager of Zenith Bank, Mr Asuquo Ita and the State Chairman, Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria, Engr Solomon Amanabo, the CEO of Excredit Consultants, Barr. Eyo Ekpo said having a law is good, but it will be to have a policy direction.
According to him, investors will be willing to invest in the State, once they are assured of a commercially viable frame work that will ensure the sectors economic sustainability, adding that such will enhance Akwa Ibom State’s socio-economic development.
Other speakers at the meeting which equally had in attendance, Barr. Emmanuel Essien, who stood in for the State Attorney General and Barr. Ben Udowa from the State Investment Corporation, were unanimous in their agreement that a good legal frame work would clearly out line the immediate and future electricity needs of the State, including the infrastructure gap and painstakingly address same to meet the short, medium and long term goals of the ARISE Agenda initiative of the present administration in the State.
Equally present at the meeting were the Director of Power, Engr Effiong Antigha, the Head of Litigation, Barr. Mfonobong Eshiet and the Head of Accounts/Finance, Mrs Itoro Tom, amongst others.
