By Constance Athekame
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) says it is collaborating with the Niger Government on ”Light Up Niger
to improve electricity supply to residents of state
The management of AEDC in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday said that this was disclosed when the Gov. Mohammed Bago of Niger received the AEDC delegation led by it’s Chief Operations Officer, Eng. Chijioke Okwuokenye at the Government House, Minna.
Bago described the initiative as a welcome development adding that Niger host four hydro dams and they contribute about 60 per cent electricity in Nigeria.
According to him, power supply is key to development especially as the state is moving into an industrialisation and processing zone.
The governor said that the “Light Up Niger” project would also proffer solution to the metering challenge in the state.
He said that the Electricity Act had been domesticated in the state and the Niger State Electricity Regulatory Commission had been created.
”The necessary paperwork for the commission will soon be completed so that the state can start generating and distributing its own power.
On his part, Okwuokenye said that the “Light Up Niger” project when it takes off, would pave way for greater things.
He said”the whole scope is to come up with the best measures that will improve and sustain electricity supply to Niger.
He commended the support of the Bago-led administration on the supply of transformers to communities adding that the private sector needs such support for survival.
He assured that the company is willing to continue to partner with the state government for the desired result.
”Recently the state government 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,”he said