Kwara State Government Commits to Energy Sector Transformation Under New Electricity Act

Abdulazeez Kola Abdulganiy, the Commissioner for Energy in Kwara State, has affirmed the state government’s dedication to revitalizing the energy sector by implementing the provisions of the Nigeria Electricity Act of 2023.

This move aims to empower the state to independently generate, transmit, and distribute electricity, fostering socio-economic development.

Speaking during a courtesy visit from the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) delegation in Ilorin, Abdulganiy emphasized the importance of efficiently managing electricity resources to propel growth within the state.

The recently enacted Electricity Act, signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 9, 2023, empowers states to regulate their electricity markets.

This includes granting licenses to private investors for power plant construction, establishing distribution networks, operating mini-grids, and distributing power to create the State Electricity Market (SEM).

Additionally, the act encourages the integration of renewable energy into existing energy mixes.

Assuring NESREA of the Ministry’s collaboration, Commissioner Abdulganiy urged the delegation to work in tandem with the ministry to achieve shared objectives.

Mrs Aremu Zainab Arike, the Kwara State Coordinator of NESREA, highlighted the necessity for collaboration with the ministry to effectively regulate environmental laws in the energy sector.

She explained, “The purpose of this regulation is to prevent pollution and encourage efficiency in the operations of the energy sector to achieve sustainable economic development.”

Aiming to carry out environmental assessments and minimize pollution, NESREA’s Chief Scientific Officer, Audu Mayowa, clarified the agency’s role in inspecting new projects to ensure they align with environmentally friendly practices and contribute to reducing global warming in the state.