By Our Correspondent in Minna
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State and former Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, has commended Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago for signing into law the Niger State electricity bill, describing it as a landmark decision.
The bill, officially named “The Niger State Power Sector Law 2024”, was signed into law last week at the Council Chamber of the Government House, Minna.
It establishes the Niger State Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Niger State Electricity Company, and the Niger State Electricity Agency, with operations set to commence on December 19, 2024.
The law aims to regulate electricity generation, transmission, trading, and distribution within the state, including rural electrification and improving underserved areas.
Speaking to journalists in Minna, Vatsa praised the governor and the state assembly for their swift action in passing and approving the bill. He urged the state government to expedite its implementation, emphasizing the need for the state to withdraw from the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
Vatsa described AEDC’s operations as exploitative and inefficient, accusing it of extorting citizens through estimated billing systems. He recounted personal experiences and frustrations with AEDC services, labeling the company a “criminal agency.”
He further argued that privatization of the power sector in Nigeria had failed, calling it one of the most “criminally-minded policies” implemented since independence. Despite billions of naira allocated to the sector, Nigerians continue to suffer from erratic power supply and poor services.
“It is disheartening that, under the government’s watch, distribution companies openly extort helpless Nigerians through dubious estimated billing systems without repercussions,” he stated.
Vatsa criticized AEDC for prioritizing profit over service delivery, noting that the company deliberately hiked prepaid meter prices to keep citizens dependent on estimated billing.
“Nigerians are forced to pay for transformers, poles, service wires, and meters, yet the government claims the power sector is privatized. Citizens pay for services not rendered, and the government sees nothing wrong,” Vatsa lamented.
The APC stalwart, who also serves as the Special Adviser to the governor on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives, said the new electricity law offers hope for economic growth, job creation, and improved productivity.
He added that Niger State, which contributes about 70% of Nigeria’s electricity supply, deserves better and can now generate its own power to meet local demands.
“With the establishment of the Niger State Electricity Regulatory Agency, this criminality by AEDC must stop. Poor citizens who are charged between N25,000 and N30,000 monthly under estimated billing systems can finally be free,” Vatsa said.
He urged stakeholders to support the implementation of the law to liberate the state from the constraints of AEDC and reposition it for economic progress.