The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has signed the state’s Electricity Bill into law, describing the legislation as a major step towards improving power supply, attracting investment, and driving economic development in the state.
The development was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Chief Solomon Iorpev.
According to the statement, Alia said the law would open up the power sector for increased investment, promote competition, enhance consumer protection and expand access to electricity for underserved communities across the state.
While assenting to the bill, the governor described it as “a landmark step towards accelerating economic growth, improving power supply, and creating sustainable development opportunities across the state.”
The statement added that the new law is expected to boost businesses, stimulate industrial growth, create employment opportunities and improve service delivery in urban and rural communities. It also aims to strengthen collaboration between electricity providers and consumers while increasing investor confidence in the state’s energy sector.
Alia commended the Benue State House of Assembly for the passage of the bill and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for investment and sustainable development.
The governor noted that “although the legislation ought to have been enacted years ago, his administration remains determined to break bureaucratic bottlenecks and move the state forward.”
He also urged residents to support the administration’s development agenda, saying that despite the state’s long history, there was a renewed commitment to achieving lasting progress.
According to the statement, Alia said “despite Benue State’s 50-year history, there is renewed determination under his leadership to build lasting achievements that future generations will be proud of,” adding that “significant progress has already been made, with more transformative initiatives underway.”
The signing of the bill follows its passage by the Benue State House of Assembly months ago as part of four measures aimed at strengthening infrastructure, resource management and regulatory systems in the state. One of the bills sought to establish the Benue State Electricity/Power Management Agency to provide a framework for improved electricity management and power distribution.