Mohammed Shosanya
The Ekiti State Government,has incorporated Ile Iyi Electric Power Company Nig. Limited with the Corporate Affairs Commission to handle services relating to electricity and energy engineering in the state.
The state Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utility, Bolaji Aluko,who disclosed this in Ado Ekiti during an audience participation programme on radio, ‘Ekiti Loni/Ekiti Today’,explained that the new company would operate as an independent private body without bureaucratic challenges.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had ceded its regulatory oversight of the electricity market in the state to the Ekiti State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (EERB).
Speaking further,Mr Aluko stated the objectives of the company to include rendering services for the provision of electricity to the public and private sector, as well as rendering such services commercially to individuals and governments of other states in Nigeria.
He added:“It would also render services relating to electricity and energy engineering, including consultancy and design of electricity infrastructure from renewable or non-renewable energy sources, and to develop and deploy technical support services in the electricity sector as a commercial service”.
According to him,the company was expected to collaborate with other corporate organisations in engineering businesses involving generation, transmission and local distribution of electricity as well as power metering technology production and sales within Ekiti State.
He noted that the new company would also render strategic support services on best standard practices and process optimisation to corporate organisations and state government institutions in the area of electricity.
He added that when required, it is also authorised to appoint licensed entities to procure and aggregate feedstock for utilisation under the power schemes of Ekiti State and purchase electricity including materials and equipment in bulk from independent power service providers and external sources such as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) or sell to consumers across the state.
The commissioner,who reiteratex the commitment of the Oyebanji administration to the provision of stable electricity, disclosed the achievements of the administration in the power sector including the establishment of the 5-megawatt Independent Power Project,currently providing uninterrupted power supply to government offices and some other key government installations in the state capital as well as the rehabilitated and connection of Erijiyan, Ikogosi and Ikogosi Resorts back to the National Grid to enhance the state’s tourism corridor.
He assured that finding solutions to challenges with stable electricity supply would also address most of the problems associated with the distribution of potable water in the state.
