VICE PRESIDENT KASHIM SHETTIMA URGES STATE GOVERNMENTS TO END DEPENDENCE ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ESTABLISH LOCAL POWER MARKETS

Vice President highlights constitutional powers granted under the Electricity Act 2023, charging state leaders to build independent regulatory frameworks and attract private energy investments

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the 36 state governments to end their reliance on the Federal Government for electricity solutions and take proactive steps to fix local power supply challenges within their respective jurisdictions.

Speaking in Abuja at a national stakeholders' workshop focused on unlocking the opportunities embedded in the Electricity Act 2023, the Vice President emphasized that the decentralized legal framework empowers states to establish sub-national electricity markets, set up independent regulatory commissions, and attract private capital.

Represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Power, Sadiq Wanka, Shettima pointed out that legislative reform alone cannot guarantee steady power supply unless state executives move swiftly to implement institutional structures, develop local energy grids, and enforce regulatory compliance.

He urged states that have yet to initiate legislative action or set up state electricity regulatory boards to expedite institutional preparations without delay, noting that sub-national autonomy remains the key to achieving sustainable energy development and driving economic growth across Nigeria.