By correspondent in Minna.
The Niger State Government has welcomed a Chinese power firm, Hunan Hengke Group, to invest in the state’s energy sector to tackle the lingering problem of erratic electricity supply in the state.
Our correspondent gathered that this initiative is also part of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago’s efforts to break the long-standing monopoly of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), which residents say has consistently failed to meet their power needs.
Speaking when he received a delegation from Hunan Hengke Group in his office in Minna, the Chairman of the Niger State Electricity Regulatory Commission (NSERC), Engr.Mohammed Sharu, expressed frustration over the poor service delivery by AEDC.
Sharu emphasized the Commission’s readiness to issue licenses to interested investors in the power sector to meet the growing electricity demands of the state.
He noted that it is unacceptable for a state that hosts four of Nigeria’s hydroelectric dams—Shiroro, Kainji, Jebba, and Zungeru—and possesses the largest landmass in the country to suffer from chronic power shortages.
“With the licensing of more investors in the power sector, I am confident that the hardships faced by our people due to inadequate electricity will soon be a thing of the past,” he said.
He added that Niger State is endowed with abundant human and natural resources, including minerals, water bodies, solar, and wind energy potentials, which can be harnessed to not only generate power but also boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Commissioners, Dr. Ameer Shakur (Licensing) and Engineer M.S. Bello (Enforcement) also encouraged the investors to explore the vast renewable energy opportunities in the state.
They urged Hunan Hengke Group to tap into the economic benefits of these natural resources.
Technical Assistant to the Commission’s Chairman, Alhaji Mahmud Keni Ndadama, revealed that although the state has an installed capacity of about 450MW, it currently receives less than 63MW—representing just 14% of its energy requirement.
In response, the leader of the Chinese delegation, Mr. Harvey Chen, expressed his company’s interest in investing in the state through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and other models suitable to the government.
He assured the Commission of Hunan Hengke Group’s commitment to building a strong working relationship and called for the commencement of work on the identification of power off-takers.
The Chinese investors were introduced to the Commission by their Nigerian partners, Brains and Hammers.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
