ABU-Trained Engineer Urges State Governments to Implement Electricity Act 2023 for Energy Security

A former Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo, has called on state governments to leverage the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023 by establishing solid electricity markets to ensure energy security in their respective states.

Speaking at a public lecture organized by the Academy of Natural Science and Engineering in Nigeria (ANSEN) at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Sambo emphasized the need for states to enact electricity laws aligned with the national Electricity Act 2023. This, he said, would create a clear legal framework for state-level electricity operations while maintaining national compliance.

According to Prof. Sambo, these laws should outline policy, legal, regulatory, and administrative provisions for establishing electricity entities within states. He also stressed the importance of setting up independent regulatory bodies to oversee electricity markets, ensuring market adaptability and competitive service delivery.

The professor, who serves as the President of the Nigerian Academy of Science and is a Professor Emeritus at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, urged states to adopt policies that attract private investments through fiscal incentives and a stable regulatory framework. Such measures, he explained, would foster growth in power generation, transmission, and distribution.

Highlighting the need for renewable energy sources, Prof. Sambo encouraged state governments to support solar, wind, and hydroelectric projects by offering incentives. This, he noted, would enhance sustainability and improve electricity access, particularly in underserved areas, in line with the Electricity Act 2023, which prioritizes renewable electricity.

Additionally, he advocated for the adoption of small modular nuclear reactors as an alternative power supply, noting that these reactors require fewer protocols compared to conventional nuclear power plants. He further urged states to prioritize investments in transmission and distribution networks while collaborating with federal initiatives to expand electricity coverage and improve reliability.

Prof. Sambo identified political interference, weak institutional capacity, and infrastructure neglect as key challenges that states must avoid when developing their electricity markets. He warned that insufficient funding and limited access to financing could hinder infrastructure development and service improvements. He also stressed the importance of ensuring adequate budget allocations and mobilizing investments, clarifying that the private sector's role would primarily focus on last-mile investments rather than transmission networks.

The energy security expert also cautioned against poor coordination between federal and state regulators, stating that such inefficiencies could deter investors and complicate market operations.

The lecture, titled Energy Security and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Way Forward for the State Governments, provided a roadmap for states to take proactive steps in implementing sustainable energy policies.