Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged state governments to establish functional electricity markets and attract private investment, saying the Electricity Act 2023 provides a framework for addressing Nigeria’s power supply challenges beyond reliance on the Federal Government.
Shettima said the country’s ambition to build a competitive industrial economy would remain constrained unless electricity reforms delivered reliable power to businesses, households and public institutions.
He spoke on Wednesday while declaring open a national stakeholders’ workshop on the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia.
The workshop brought together government institutions, regulators and other stakeholders to assess the implementation of the legislation.
Shettima said the Act had created opportunities for states to regulate electricity markets within their jurisdictions and develop solutions tailored to their economic needs and available resources.
“Our states must shed the habit of waiting for Abuja to provide every answer,” he said, stressing that electricity supply should be treated as a shared national responsibility.
The vice-president highlighted the solar energy potential of Sokoto, Borno and Katsina states, the gas resources of Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa, and hydropower opportunities in Niger and Kebbi.
He urged state governments to harness these resources to attract investments capable of supporting agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and education.
However, Shettima cautioned that the legislation alone would not guarantee improved electricity supply, urging states yet to establish regulatory institutions to begin the process without delay.
He also proposed a voluntary National Electricity Reform Peer Review and Implementation Framework involving the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Federal Ministry of Power, Nigeria Governors’ Forum and state electricity regulators.
According to him, the framework would enable states to share experiences and assess progress in electricity market development, investment readiness, consumer protection and access to power.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, Mahmuda Mamman, said the success of the Act depended on states establishing credible institutions and commercially viable electricity markets.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr Abdulateef Shittu, said the forum was working to strengthen coordination between federal and state institutions.
He added that efforts were underway to develop a standard tariff framework that would protect consumers while encouraging investment.
Meanwhile, NERC’s Deputy General Manager and Head of Compliance, Hauwa Yakubu, disclosed that the commission had transferred regulatory responsibilities to 17 states, with Akwa Ibom the latest to receive the transfer.
