TheCable

Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu, on Friday signed the state electricity bill into law.

Speaking while signing the bill at the government house, Mbah described it as a major step towards economic growth and investment in the state’s electricity sector.

He said the quest by his administration to build Enugu’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion cannot be realised without a stable power supply

“As you know, following the constitutional amendment and the Electricity Act of 2023, electricity is now on the concurrent list,” Mbah said.

“This will now enable us to play in all the value chain of the electricity industry/

“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.

“We are also, through our regulatory commission, which this law has given us the power to create, going to be able to regulate the activities of these players – the generation, transmission, and distribution companies that will flow from it.

“So, this is a significant and very important law towards the achievement of the Enugu of our dreams because the development and growth of Enugu will all be predicated on the platter that this law has created.

“You cannot talk about industry or private sector investment if you don’t have electricity or power.

“Enugu, under our administration, is designed and indeed prepared to be the premier destination for investment and this law is part of the enablers.”

The governor thanked members of the Enugu state house of assembly for expeditiously passing the bill and transmitting it to him for assent.

In June, President Bola Tinubu signed the electricity bill into law, empowering states, companies and individuals to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity.

The electricity law repeals the electricity and power sector reform act of 2005 and consolidates the laws relating to the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).