Bayelsa and Benue State governments have announced plans to improve electricity supply, with Bayelsa considering 13 mini-grids and Benue exploring a $4bn hydroelectric power plant.
Director-General of the Bayelsa Electricity Regulatory Agency, Rosalyn Dressman, said the state was working with GIZ and the Nigerian Energy Support Programme to collate data for the proposed mini-grids.
Dressman, speaking at a South-South Reawakening Group roundtable in Yenagoa, said the agency had developed an Integrated Resource Plan covering electricity demand forecasts, existing assets and supply and network options. The plan also seeks cost-effective and resilient solutions.
Managing Director of Bayelsa Electricity Company, Olice Kemenanabo, identified poor distribution networks as a major reason many homes lack electricity. He also clarified that state regulatory powers under the Electricity Act do not automatically transfer existing distribution franchises or networks to state governments.
SSRG Convener Joseph Ambakaderimo described the Electricity Act 2023 as a structural change that gives states greater authority to develop their electricity markets. He, however, warned that decentralisation could create jurisdictional overlaps between federal and state authorities if it was not properly coordinated.
Ambakaderimo said successful implementation would require dialogue, alignment and cooperation among stakeholders. He noted that the reforms created opportunities for investment and locally driven electricity solutions but also placed greater responsibility on states.
In Makurdi, the Benue Investment Promotion Agency Chief Executive Officer, Johnpaul Kpenkaan, said the state was considering a $4bn hydroelectric power plant that could generate 1,650 megawatts. He said the project formed part of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s broader infrastructure plans.
Kpenkaan said the proposed plant was intended to provide the energy base needed to support industrial and economic development in Benue. The project, if executed, would complement other efforts by both states to expand electricity access and improve power supply.
