Bayelsa State has experienced a power outage for the past three months, Governor Douye Diri reports. The ongoing electricity crisis is raising concerns among residents and prompting calls for urgent government intervention.
Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State has announced that the state has been experiencing a power outage for over three months, “and counting.”
Diri stated that the situation was caused by criminals vandalizing the national grid, which supplies electricity to the state.
He revealed this information while speaking to attendees at the opening of the 20th All Nigeria Editors’ Conference (ANEC), currently taking place in Yenagoa, the state capital.
He informed the Editors that the illumination visible in hotels and other locations within the state capital does not come from the National Grid, but rather from power generators and alternative sources.
The Governor hinted that his administration plans to utilize the Electricity Bill, recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, to create an independent power source for the state using its abundant gas resources.
READ ALSO: Senate Approves 15% State Funding for Regional Development Commissions
He praised the media for their contribution to strengthening democracy in Nigeria.
He took the opportunity to emphasize his administration’s achievements and the environmental challenges confronting the state, urging the media to highlight these issues in their coverage.
He expressed that both the Government and people of Bayelsa State are delighted and honored to host the 20th edition of the NGE conference, wishing all participants productive discussions and an enjoyable stay in the state.
Remember that in June 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the electricity bill, allowing states, companies, and individuals to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity.
The newly enacted electricity law revokes the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) that was signed by then-President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005.
The recently signed Act by President Tinubu unifies all legislation related to the electricity supply sector, establishing a comprehensive and optimal institutional framework. This aims to guide the post-privatization phase of Nigeria’s Electricity Supply Industry while also promoting private sector investment in this field.
