Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged state governments to stop relying solely on the Federal Government to address electricity challenges, calling on them to establish functional power markets and attract private investment.

Shettima said Nigeria’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 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 review the implementation of the law.

Shettima said the Act provided an opportunity for states to develop and regulate electricity markets within their jurisdictions, allowing them to design solutions suited 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 become a shared responsibility across the country.

States Urged To Harness Energy Resources

The Vice-President identified solar energy potential in Sokoto, Borno and Katsina, gas resources in Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa, and hydropower opportunities in Niger and Kebbi as resources states could exploit to improve electricity access.

He urged state governments to turn these opportunities into investments that would support agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and education.

However, he warned that the passage of the Electricity Act alone would not guarantee improved power supply. He called on states yet to establish electricity regulatory institutions to begin the necessary legislative and institutional processes without delay.

Shettima also proposed a voluntary National Electricity Reform Peer Review and Implementation Framework involving the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Federal Ministry of Power, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and state electricity regulators.

The proposed framework would enable states to share experiences and assess progress in electricity market development, investment readiness, consumer protection and access to power.

Shettima said periodic reviews could help identify implementation challenges, encourage technical assistance and promote practical solutions while respecting states’ constitutional powers.

NGF, NERC Speak On Implementation

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, Mahmuda Mamman, said the success of the Electricity Act depended on states’ ability to establish credible institutions and commercially viable electricity markets.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Abdulateef Shittu, said the forum was working to improve coordination between federal and state institutions.

Shittu also disclosed that efforts were underway to develop a standard tariff framework that would protect consumers while encouraging investment and ensuring the commercial sustainability of electricity markets.

Meanwhile, NERC’s Deputy General Manager and Head of Compliance, Hauwa Yakubu, said the commission had transferred regulatory responsibilities to 17 states, with Akwa Ibom being the latest to receive the transfer.

The Electricity Act 2023 allows states to regulate electricity markets within their jurisdictions, creating opportunities for state governments to develop local power solutions and attract investment.