By Emmanuel Awari, Jalingo
Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas has expressed worries over the current blackout being experienced in the state and the North East zone at large.
He revealed that he is putting heads together with his colleagues in the zone towards finding lasting solution to the problem.
The Governor, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communication, Hon. Emmanuel Bello, disclosed this in an interactive session with journalists at the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Jalingo.
“The commissioner for energy has met with the minister of power and is not satisfied with the response so far. She passionately appealed to the federal government to do something fast.
“The state government is tasking the federal government to act swiftly to deal with this situation in record time.
“Government is conscious of the serious sufferings being experienced by Taraba state indigines.
“Governor Kefas is thinking out of the box for better solutions to the crisis. Solar, wind and renewable energies are all on board. More meetings with international partners are ongoing.
“Taraba state government is taking security measures to stop all vandalisation of power installations by criminals.
He said that exploration of alternative source of energy has commenced.
“Government promised to keep monitoring the situation and keeping citizens abreast the with progress reports.
He said that his administration is committed to providing bail outs to media institutions to support the budget for diesels so they can have longer hours in the absence of electricity.
“State-owned Media organisations to receive intervention soon.
He said the intervention is to enable the media organisations, TSBS and TTV to run their services as the diesel price soars as well as power outages.
“The Taraba state government attributes the prolonged power outage in certain areas of the state to the federal government’s failure to approve the repairs of the vandalized power lines along the Gombe-Jos highway.
“The state government also expressed discontent over the absence of power in the state capital, leading to significant hardship for residents.
Speaking, the State Commissioner of Energy and Economic Development, Engr. Naomi Tanko Agbu, pointed out that the state government had reached out to the federal government regarding the matter, but has yet to receive a positive response.
Recall that on 8th June 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed the electricity bill into law, granting states, companies, and individuals the authority to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity. The new electricity legislation repeals the Electricity and Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 and consolidates the laws pertaining to the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
Similarly, the senate approved the electricity bill in July 2022 to address the challenges in the sector. President Muhammadu Buhari ratified 16 constitutional amendments in 2022, one of which relates to the devolution of powers (national grid system), clarifying the federal government’s and states’ authority to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity.
On his part, the President, Southern Taraba Youths Coalition for Peace (STYCOP), Amb. Rikwense Muri in a statement, said:
“Rather than painting a bleak picture for citizens already facing hardships, the Taraba State Government must establish a Technical Committee to explore the pathway for us to establish our own State Electricity Generating and Distribution Company, as now empowered by the new electricity law. Alternatively, they should devise strategies for us to obtain electricity from Kashimbilla in the interim.
“This presents an opportune moment for our state to think innovatively to ensure our hope is not reliant on power supply from Bauchi, Gombe, and Yola. This position will inspire hope in our people.
“The current situation signals that energy could emerge as a significant security concern in our state in the future, and we must perceive this positively.
“We must never address our people without offering them hope, as was lacking in today’s press conference.
“Various alternative energy sources such as solar power, wind power, and hydroelectric power are available options. By investing in these alternative energy sources, the government can contribute to a more dependable and sustainable power supply for the people of Jalingo and its environs.
“Moreover, the government could consider investing in energy efficiency measures to decrease the overall demand for electricity. This could involve initiatives like promoting energy-efficient appliances, implementing building codes to enhance energy efficiency, and educating the public on ways to reduce their energy consumption.
“Furthermore, the government could collaborate with private sector partners to explore innovative solutions for power generation and distribution. This might entail public-private partnerships to develop new power plants, microgrid systems, and energy storage solutions.
“Through a state-owned GENCO and DISCO, our 90% rural communities currently without electricity could also access power, significantly boosting our overall.
“By taking proactive steps to explore alternative sources of energy, the government can provide hope to the people of Jalingo and the state at large during this blackout. It is important for leadership to take responsibility and provide solutions, rather than placing blame on the Federal Government or others. By investing in sustainable and reliable energy solutions, the government can help to mitigate the impact of blackouts and provide a brighter future for its citizens – he said.
Hon. Emmanuel Bello,
Special Adviser to Governor Agbu Kefas on Media and Digital Communication