Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on state governments to take greater responsibility for electricity supply by establishing functional electricity markets and attracting private investors under the Electricity Act 2023.
Shettima said Nigeria’s drive towards industrialisation and economic growth would remain hampered unless the country translated electricity reforms into reliable power for businesses, households and public institutions.
He made the call on Wednesday at a national stakeholders’ workshop on the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia.
The Vice President urged states to move away from relying solely on the Federal Government to address electricity challenges, noting that the law had provided a framework for subnational governments to regulate electricity markets within their jurisdictions.
“Our states must shed the habit of waiting for Abuja to provide every answer,” he said, stressing that electricity development must become a shared responsibility among the different levels of government.
He noted that states could leverage their natural resources to develop independent electricity solutions, citing solar energy potential in Sokoto, Borno and Katsina, gas resources in Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa, as well as hydropower opportunities in Niger and Kebbi states.
According to him, harnessing these resources through strategic investments would strengthen electricity supply and support critical sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and education.
Shettima, however, cautioned that the enactment of the Electricity Act alone would not guarantee improved power supply, urging states that had yet to establish electricity regulatory institutions to commence the process without further delay.
He also proposed a voluntary National Electricity Reform Peer Review and Implementation Framework to encourage collaboration among the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Federal Ministry of Power, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and state electricity regulators.
The proposed framework would allow states to exchange experiences and assess their progress in electricity market development, investment readiness, consumer protection and access to electricity.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, Mahmuda Mamman, said effective implementation of the Act depended on states establishing credible regulatory institutions and commercially viable electricity markets.
Similarly, the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr Abdulateef Shittu, said the forum was working to strengthen coordination between federal and state institutions.
Shittu added that efforts were underway to develop a standard tariff framework capable of protecting consumers while creating an enabling environment for investment in the electricity sector.
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 State being the latest to receive the transfer.
The developments underscore growing efforts to deepen electricity sector reforms by enabling states to play a more active role in power generation, distribution and regulation, with the ultimate goal of improving electricity access and attracting investment across the country.
