The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the government is paying critical attention to the power sector, encouraging investment in the sector to support production and grow the state’s economy.
Obaseki, who spoke in Benin City, said as part of the government’s efforts to reform the sector, the Edo State Assembly passed a law setting up the Edo State Electricity Commission to establish an independent electricity market in the state.
According to him, “In order to grow the economy of our state and encourage manufacturers and producers to locate their industries and businesses in Edo State, we are encouraging investments in the electricity sector.
“Apart from our investment in the Azura 450MW and support for the 95MW Ossiomo Power projects, we have now passed a law setting up the Edo State Electricity Commission. The purpose of this law is to establish an independent Electricity market in Edo State. It is expected that this will attract investors to generate and distribute electricity within Edo State particularly to underserved communities.”
The Ossiomo Power project is a brainchild of the Obaseki-led state government to make the state self-sustaining in power supply. The 95MW facility was birthed through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Ossiomo Power Company powers government offices and hospitals, as well as streetlights in Benin metropolis.
Emotan Gardens Estate, Edo Tech Park, Edo Creative Hub, among others, all enjoy 22-24 hours of stable electricity supply daily. The power is being extended to the Edo Enterprise and Industrial Park to spur industrialization.
Obaseki added, “We continue to look for ways to obtain resources to provide more services for our citizens. In the light of the prevailing economic realities, there is an urgent need to reduce waste and redesign government to be more functional and more responsive in providing efficient public service to citizens.
“We have redesigned the government to become more streamlined and functional, ensuring that we are focused on delivering optimal service to the public. Therefore, State Government ministries have been cut down from 22 to 18, while MDAs have been reduced to 72, from 105. This has been done without retrenching or laying off any worker from the civil or public service.
“With a revamped public service, we intend to deliver more efficient services to Edo people. Civil and public servants are now receiving intensive training at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy to prepare them to deliver on their responsibilities.”
