Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said that the Abia State Mini-Grid Regulation document he signed would open up the Abia State electricity market to competent investors and improve generation and distribution of electricity to unserved and underserved communities.
He also said it would cut down the rate of rural-urban migration, crash the cost of doing business, and tackle poverty.
Otti, who said this at Government House, Umuahia, on Wednesday during the signing of the policy document, disclosed that Abia took advantage of the 2024 Electricity Bill signed by President Bola Tinubu, which decentralized the electricity market.
He noted that the introduction of mini-grid solutions and the accompanying regulations in Abia would lift millions of persons out of poverty through job creation, especially in the agricultural value chain.
The governor observed that many rural people in Abia who are migrating to the urban areas would have preferred living in their villages if they enjoyed adequate electricity supplies.
“It would also cut down the rate of rural-urban migration and make our communities liveable, especially for those who prefer the quiet and less-aggressive life in the suburban centres.”
He allayed the silent fears of dominant players in the electricity industry that the Abia Mini-Grid Regulation would not threaten their businesses but would accommodate everyone who has the capacity to provide value.
He assured consumers in rural communities who had been disconnected or totally in darkness that mini-grids would be set up to offer short- to medium-term energy solutions to them.
