FG has given States freedom to generate power – Fashola

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday said the Federal Government has given State governments autonomy to produce power so as to ensure improved power supply in the country.

According to him, this was because nothing in the recent Electricity Power Sector Reforms Act, EPSRA, deterred states from doing such.

He, however, said that interested states must obtain the necessary permit and licenses from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) depending on the areas it wants to invest in.

The Minister made this know while speaking at the 18th monthly power sector operators meeting at the Kumbotso transmission station, Kano State.

He said: “Let me also make this point clear today, I have heard statements made that State governments should be allowed to produce their own power.
“The truth is that there is nothing in the Electricity Power Sector Reforms Act that stops any state from doing so, so the only thing they must do is to get NERC’s permit and licenses depending on whatever categorization of investment they want to do whether it is distribution or generation.
“So, let me be clear about that, I will support any state that wants to get involved in generating and also distributing power under its own arrangement.”