Vice President Kashim Shettima has challenged the 36 state governors to take charge of their energy needs and stop relying on the Federal Government to solve Nigeria’s electricity challenges.

Speaking on Wednesday at the National Stakeholders Workshop on the Electricity Act 2023 held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima emphasized that the new legal framework effectively decentralizes the power sector, granting states the autonomy to generate, transmit, and distribute their own power.

The Vice President stressed that Nigeria cannot build a competitive, industrialized economy without providing stable and reliable power for businesses, households, and public institutions. He noted that the era of centralizing power solutions is over, and sub-national governments must now step up to the plate.

The Electricity Act empowers States to develop and regulate intrastate electricity markets within the applicable constitutional and statutory framework, Shettima said. State governors can fix electricity without the Federal Government. The size, diversity, and endowments of this nation demand this decentralisation.

He further charged the state executives to abandon the culture of total dependence on central authority, adding that electricity supply must become a shared responsibility pursued with innovation and accountability across the federation. Our States must shed the habit of waiting for the Federal Government to provide every answer.

Pointing out the unique natural advantages of various regions, the Vice President highlighted the vast solar potential in Sokoto, Borno, and Katsina; abundant gas resources in Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa; and untapped hydro opportunities in Niger and Kebbi. He urged state governments to aggressively convert these localized resources into commercially viable investments capable of driving growth in agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, and education.

However, Shettima cautioned that merely having the law in place would not automatically guarantee electricity. He issued a strong call to action, urging states that are yet to establish their independent electricity regulatory agencies to do so immediately to unlock the full potential of the Act.