FG Gives States Greenlight 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.”