Mohammed Shosanya
Governor Hope Uzodinma has inaugurated Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission(ISERC).
Engr. Sam Nwire, former Special Adviser to the Governor on Power,is the Chairman Imo State Electricity, Regulatory Commission (ISERC),while Barrister Chinemerem Ugochukwu Nnawuihe is the Secretary.
Other inaugurated members of the Commission are: Engr. Bede Opara, Engr. Celestine Onwuharaonye, Hon. Lady Chidinma Oparaocha, Mr. Nnamdi Okwuosa, Barr. (Mrs.) Ogechi Ogu and Barr. (Mrs) Adaobi Aniche.
At the inauguration took place at the Executive Chambers , Government House Imo State,the Governor implored the commission’s members to commit their wealth of experience to deliver on the mandate given to them.
Governor Uzodimma informed that if the State must have a robust and sustainable economy,it must get its power priority right.
He recalled that moving power generation and distribution from the exclusive list of the 1999 Constitution as amended to the concurrent list has given the states the opportunity to source for their power generation, distribution and transmission.
Imo State is taking advantage of the alteration in the Constitution to source for her own power and to effectively accomplish the dream, there will be need for audit of Imo state’s assets in the old power company,he said.
He explained that the appointment of professional into the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission was to ensure that they liaise with the Federal, State and Local Governments to ensure that the above target is realised.
He added:”The State Electricity Regulatory Commission is made up of men and women with vast experience in the power sector who can always interface and achieve results without disappointing the expectations of the government.”
He disclosed that has his administration has secured $200million technical and financial support from private partners which will be injected into the Imo power projects.
He disclosed that all the financial involvement of the projects will be executed by the partners with Imo contributing no dime.
Expressing his confidence on the power projects,the Governor said that Imo State will soon experience 24 hours power supply in all the Local Government Areas, with the Orashi Electricity Company Limited fully activated to light up Imo next January.
He charged members of the Electricity company Commission to work very hard to ensure they do not disappoint the government and people of Imo State, assuring that the government will give them all the necessary support and provide enabling environment they need to succeed.
He further urged the commission’s members to persuade the Federal Government to give back to Imo State her assets in the original power sector to enable them supply power to Imo State.
Speaking,Engr Nwire thanked the Governor for finding them worthy for the appointments,promising that his team will not fail the state.
