The government of Benue State is planning to create a new law that will help manage and improve the electricity situation in the state. Mr. Omale Omale, who is the Commissioner for Transport, Renewable Energy, and Power, shared this information in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria. He mentioned that they have already drafted the bill and it is currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Justice. Once the bill receives approval from the state executive council, it will be sent to the House of Assembly for further consideration.
The purpose of this new electricity law is to address the energy needs of communities in Benue State, especially those that either lack electricity completely or experience frequent power outages. Mr. Omale explained that there are some areas that do not have any electricity infrastructure at all, which means they are completely unserved. On the other hand, there are communities that have the necessary infrastructure but do not receive consistent electricity supply, making them underserved.
He emphasized that the government understands the energy requirements of the people in Benue State and is actively working to address these issues. The new law will enable the state to participate in the energy market, which means Benue will have the authority to generate, distribute, and regulate electricity within its own borders.
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In the interview, some residents shared their struggles with the current electricity situation. For example, Mrs. Jennifer Tema, a 67-year-old restaurant owner, expressed her frustration over frequent power outages caused by problems with the national electricity grid. She explained that these outages have resulted in significant losses for her business, particularly with perishable food items. She mentioned that she lost over 2 million Naira (about $2,600) due to a recent power outage and hopes the state government will find alternative energy solutions to help mitigate these losses.
Another resident, Dennis Tyosula, who runs a computer center and a betting shop, also spoke about the challenges he faces due to unreliable power supply. He has to buy fuel for his generators, costing him between 1,200 and 1,350 Naira (around $1.50 to $1.75) per liter. This expense is cutting into his profits, and he is struggling to keep his businesses afloat because of the ongoing electricity issues.
Overall, the Benue State government is taking steps to improve the electricity situation for its residents, but many people are still facing challenges due to the current lack of reliable power supply.
