The National Assembly has commended Governor Alex Otti for signing the Abia State Electricity Bill into Law and creating a regulatory body for electricity generation and distribution in Abia State.
The Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Renewable Energy, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene gave the commendation on Saturday, 29th March when he led a delegation of the House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy to pay the Governor a working visit.
“Your Excellency, let me begin by thanking you for agreeing to meet with us. I also want to thank you for signing into law, the Abia State electricity bill and in that bill, we saw how you prioritised the place of renewable energy.
“You have gone ahead to put in place the Abia state Electricity Regulatory Authority, signifying that you have moved on since the National Assembly moved the issue of electricity to the concurrent list. Going forward, it is going to be a partnership,” Hon. Ogene stated.
He appreciated other giant strides of Governor Otti especially in the areas of road infrastructure, saying that the areas he visited across the State bears testaments of the Governor’s commitment to the bettering of Abia State.
Hon. Ogene said that the enormous power challenges confronting the nation can not be over emphasized, hence, the attention being paid to renewable energy.
According to him, the transition of Nigeria to renewable energy is a top priority to the House of Representatives, hence, it’s popularisation by the House. Hon. Ogene invited used the opportunity to invite Governor Alex Otti to participate and partner with the National Assembly in that regard.
“This strategic approach tends to popularize the new technology and encourage Nigerians to adopt renewable energy solutions, thereby, strengthening National energy options and security.
“The House has also taken a significant step towards promoting renewable energy sustainability by recently adopting a resolution that makes it mandatory for Government Ministries, Agencies and Departments including Institutions to transition to renewable energy sources for their power means.
“To further place renewable energy on the front burner, the Committee in conjunction with the office of the Speaker has scheduled a National Legislative Summit, between May 5th and 7th, 2025 to cast more light on the legislative and regulatory gaps in the sector.
“Specifically, the summit aims to facilitate knowledge exchange to promote dialogue among legislators, experts and stakeholders for critical Legislative priorities, Legislative frame works and global best practices.
“Our purpose is to formally brief you on the upcoming summit and extend an invitation for your participation and partnership,” Hon. Ogene noted.
Responding, Governor Alex Otti appreciated the kind comments from members of the Committee about his government and maintained that the contributions that he had made in the past 22 months of his administration is just what the people need.
“I am also glad to hear about your good experiences here in Abia State, because, sometimes, when you are told a few things, it is not the same with when you see them with your eyes.
“For those who knew this State before now, we came determined to rewrite the story of this State. The basic issue is that we know the potentials of our people and we know that all they require is a little support from the Government.
“They don’t need you to give them money. Our people don’t believe in hand outs, they believe in the raw energy that God has given them.
“It’s just a little support; create an enabling environment, create a State where security can be guaranteed and the social Infrastructures of healthcare and education, and then of course, the hard infrastructure like roads,” Gov. Otti stated.
Governor Otti, who noted that power is very important to economic development, commended the National Assembly on what it is doing in that regard.
“But, what you are doing is good and I support it because in the long run, renewable energy is cheaper and sustainable”
He disclosed that having signed the Abia State Electricity Bill into Law and having set up the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency, the State is now ready to boost the economy through power.
The Governor was joined in the meeting by the Honourable Commissioner for Power, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday and the Special Adviser on Energy, Engr. Kachy Etolue.
