The Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, on Monday, kcked off the Light Up project in Enugu, marking a significant step in the federal government’s efforts to enhance energy supply to industrial hubs in the South East region.
The event was attended by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, and Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State.
Also present at the event were former Senate President Pius Anyim, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, Emeka Offor, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), among others.
Shettima praised the project as a transformative endeavor that brings hope to industrialists and investors in the region. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) and its partners.
Highlighting the importance of the Light Up project, Shettima emphasized President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving power supply to industrial clusters in the South East and stressed the crucial role of stable power supply in driving economic growth and industrialization.
Also speaking, Chiedu Ugbo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, described the event as a platform for the business community in the South-East Zone to engage with the Vice President and launch the South-East phase of the collaboration to provide reliable electricity supply to industrial and business clusters across Nigeria.
Ugbo outlined the progress made since the initiation of the project, including identifying key industrial customers, conducting engineering surveys, and procuring transmission and distribution projects.
“The project aligns with the Electricity Act of 2023 (graciously signed into law by His Excellency Present Bola Tinubu GCFR), which provides a strong framework for state governments to develop electricity markets at the sub-national level, with the aim of delivering consistent and affordable electricity to residents.
“Through the Light up Nigeria project, state governments will derive the benefit of increased access to electricity, attraction of investment opportunities, revenue generation and economic growth.
“At the Federal level, the project will help to reduce the financial burden on FGN’s balance sheet from debt exposure of NBET.
“The project is further reinforced by NERC’s MYTO 2024 which mandates distribution companies to secure adequate bilateral contracts and exit from contractual relationships with NBET. NDPHC remains at the forefront in pursuing bilateral electric power sales and other projects that ensure efficient and targeted electricity delivery to end-users,” he said.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State expressed optimism about the Light-Up Nigeria Project, stating that it heralds a new era for power and industrial development in the South East. He lauded the initiative as a testament to his administration’s innovative governance approach.
