Niger, AEDC partner on ‘Light Up Niger project’
The Abuja Electricity Development Company (AEDC) and the Niger State Government have come up with an initiative that will improve electricity supply to residents of Niger State.
The initiative code name: “Light Up Niger 2024” would be a collaboration between the state government and the AEDC to ensure a steady power supply to the State.
Recall that the Niger State Government recently described as unacceptable the continuous erratic and epileptic power supply in the State. The situation improved immediately and has led to the “Light Up Niger” initiative.
A statement issued by the AEDC in Abuja on Wednesday stated that the governor of the state, Mohammed Umaru Bago, and the AEDC’s Chief Operations Officer, Engr. Chijioke Okwuokenye struck the deal when the company’s delegation paid the governor a courtesy call in Minna, the Niger state capital.
The statement quoted Bago as describing the initiative as a welcome development because Niger State is host to four hydro dams and the dams contribute about 60% of electricity in Nigeria.
He also observed that power supply is key to development especially as the State is moving into an industrialization and processing zone.
The governor expressed optimism that the “Light Up Niger” project will also proffer a solution to the metering challenge in the state and disclosed that the Electricity Act has been domesticated in the state.
Bago noted that and the Niger State Electricity Regulatory Commission has been created in the state, stated that the necessary paperwork for the Regulatory Commission will soon be completed so that the state can start generating and distributing its power.
On his part, the Chief Operating Officer of AEDC, Eng. Chijioke Okwuokenye explained that the “Light Up Niger” project when it takes off, will pave the way for greater things to come as the whole scope is to come up with the best measures that will improve and sustain electricity supply to Niger State.
He commended the support of the Bago-led administration through the supply of transformers to communities saying that the private sector needs such support for survival and assured that the Company is willing to continue to partner with the State Government for the desired result.
