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CROSS RIVER STATE ELECTRICITY BILL 2024; TRANSFORMING THE STATE ENERGY LANDSCAPE THROUGH INNOVATIVE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK




Recently, the Commissioner, Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy Prince Eka Williams presented the Draft Cross River State Electricity Bill 2024 to the Attorney General/Commissioner, Ministry of Justice Barr. Ededem Ani at his office at the New Secretariat, Calabar, Cross River State. 


The presentation marked a significant milestone in the Journey to the transformation of the Cross River State Energy landscape and provision of access to sustainable Electricity for citizens and residents of the State. 


The Cross River State Electricity Bill 2024 is an Executive Bill which seeks to take advantage of the recent decentralisation of power sector in Nigeria to expand the Energy offering and Energy mix of Cross River State to meet the Energy needs of the citizens and residents. 


The Electricity Act 2023 signed into Law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2023 repealed the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 (EPSRA) and aims to consolidate the laws relating to electricity in Nigeria across the entire value chain of the Nigerian Power Sector, including the integration of renewable energy to Nigeria's energy mix. 


The Electricity Act 2023 along with the recent Constitutional Amendment gives the State Houses of Assembly Power to make laws for the State to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity to areas within their respective States. It also empowers states and private companies to invest in Power generation, transmission and distribution. 


Sequel to this, the pragmatic Commissioner, Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy Prince Eka Williams took the Bull by the horn by proposing this transformative legislation to be sent to the Cross River State House of Assembly for consideration and passage. 


The Bill proposes the Establishment of a Cross River State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) and Cross River State Electricity Transmission Company (GRIDco), among other entities, for the effective and efficient administration of the Electricity industry in the State. 


When passed and signed into Law, the Cross River State Electricity Act 2024 will empower the Cross River State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) to grant licences for Electricity Generation, Transmission, Distribution and Supply to firms to provide Power to the entire State. 


This when achieved will provide Electricity to a large population of the state including underserved and unserved rural communities in the state. This is expected to not only boost economic activities in the state but also improve general well-being of citizens and residents. 


Indeed, the challenges associated with Electricity in the State will soon be a thing of the past. The Commissioner attributes all the successes recorded so far in the Ministry to the support and deep vision of His Excellency, Sen Prince Bassey Otu. 


Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, the visionary Governor of Cross River State, he added, is committed to the transformation of the Energy sector in the State being in line with his "People First" Agenda. 


Well done Commissioner, Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy Prince Eka Williams. Thank you Executive Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu. 


Emmanuel Etim writes from Calabar, the Cross River State Capital.

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