The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has announced the closure of its forum offices in several states, transferring regulatory responsibilities to newly established State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs). This development comes under the provisions of the new Electricity Act 2023, which empowers states to regulate electricity independently.
In a statement released yesterday, NERC confirmed that its forum offices in Enugu and Ekiti states ceased operations on October 22. The commission further revealed that its Imo office will shut down on December 31, 2024, while the offices in Oyo, Edo, and Kogi states will close by February 5, February 20, and March 12, 2025, respectively.
NERC urged electricity consumers in these states to channel all complaints and regulatory issues to their respective SERCs. “Customers in these states are encouraged to direct any electricity-related complaints to their respective SERCs moving forward. NERC extends its best wishes to the new SERCs as they embark on the important task of establishing effective regulation in their states,” the statement read.
FG Focuses on Solar Energy for Federal Institutions
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has announced plans to deploy advanced solar micro-grids in federal universities, tertiary institutions, and teaching hospitals nationwide. The initiative is part of efforts to reduce energy costs and promote sustainable power solutions for critical sectors.
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this during an inspection of the University of Abuja’s solar micro-grid project, which is near completion. The project, at 95% readiness, will be replicated in other institutions, according to a statement by his spokesman, Bolaji Tunji.
“No critical sector can perform optimally without stability, functionality, reliability, and affordability of energy. Energy is like the blood that every sector needs to perform optimally, which is the reason why President Bola Tinubu has prioritised power as a sector,” Adelabu stated.
He highlighted that the initiative aims to shield educational and healthcare institutions from the high costs of energy while reducing reliance on the national grid. The minister also urged the University of Abuja to ensure proper maintenance of the solar infrastructure.
The project, spearheaded by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in partnership with the Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP) and Energising Education Programme (EEP), will be inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu in December 2024.
University Authorities Applaud Solar Initiative
Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Aisha Maikudi, expressed gratitude for the project, describing it as a much-needed intervention. “Electricity is very critical to us. The cost of running our generators is so high because of the high cost of diesel. I often get calls and text messages from our students that there is no light. This solar energy project will bring great relief to the entire university community,” she said.
The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to addressing energy challenges in critical sectors while promoting sustainable solutions. GMTNewsng
