The Benue State government is working on a new electricity law to regulate the state’s energy sector.
Mr. Omale Omale, the commissioner for Transport, Renewable Energy, and Power, shared this information in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Makurdi.
Omale explained that the bill had been drafted at the Ministry of Justice and was currently under review. Once the state executive council approves it, the bill will be presented to the House of Assembly as an executive bill.
The proposed law aims to address energy issues in both unserved and underserved communities in the state. Omale noted that while some areas lack electricity infrastructure, others with existing infrastructure face irregular power supply.
“As a ministry, we are aware of the energy needs of all Benue people, and we are working to address them,” he said.
The new Electricity Act allows states to enter the energy market, enabling them to generate, distribute, and regulate electricity within their own territories.
Mrs. Jennifer Tema, a 67-year-old restaurant owner, shared her frustration with NAN over the frequent collapse of the national power grid, which has caused significant damage to her business. Tema explained that she has suffered losses worth millions of Naira from spoiled perishable goods due to power outages.
“Recently, power supply has improved, but the national grid issue still causes me great loss. My generator can only power two freezers at a time, and I lost over N2 million in the last power outage. This is severely impacting my business,” she said. “I hope the state government will provide alternative energy sources to help mitigate these losses.”
Another resident, Dennis Tyosula, who runs a computer center and betting shop in Makurdi, also expressed concerns about the lack of reliable electricity. He revealed that he spends between N1,200 and N1,350 per liter on fuel to power his generators, consuming between 16 and 18 liters daily. As a result, Tyosula is not making a profit but instead incurring losses due to the unreliable power supply.
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