Attendees at the Roundtable on the Electricity Act 2023 emphasized that states require assistance in order to take immediate advantage of the potential presented by the newly passed and signed Electricity Act by President Tinubu.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the British High Commission organized the Roundtable through the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), and it took place in Abuja on October 25 and 26.
The Roundtable made clear that a customized strategy was required, taking into account the particular difficulties and constraints faced by each state.
The NGF Chairman and governor of Kwara State, AbdulRasaq AbdulRahman, emphasized that each state has a unique ability and financial standing to draw in investments in the energy sector.
He said: “Through these collaborations, we seek to achieve the following objectives – capacity building, policy guidance, knowledge sharing, and above all infrastructural/project development by supporting State governments in identifying and developing bankable projects in the electricity sector, ensuring that these projects meet the highest standards of technical, social, and environmental sustainability.”
But Thomas Pascoe, the UKNIAF Project Director, stressed the importance of structure in Nigeria’s energy sector, saying that improving the structure will open the door for developments in the field of power.
He said: “The issue of the Nigerian energy sector is not talent, it is structure – the structure to grow, thrive, and improve state economies. These discussions have now set the course for a promising future in the energy sector, driven by clarity, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence.”
The British Deputy High Commissioner, Gill Atkinson, also emphasized the importance of the new clause allowing State Governments to produce, transfer, and distribute electricity, stressing its critical role in resolving Nigeria’s energy deficit.
In order to improve electricity generation and supply to a larger population, she recommended the investigation of new opportunities.
