In a major move to revolutionize the state’s economy, Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has signed the historic Benue State Electricity Bill into law.
​The legislation marks a significant milestone for the state, granting it the legal backing to generate, transmit, distribute, and regulate its own electricity independent of the national grid. The move leverages the constitutional powers granted to sub-national governments under Nigeria’s Electricity Act of 2023.
​Speaking during the assent ceremony, Governor Alia described the new law as a “landmark step” aimed at breaking bureaucratic bottlenecks, accelerating industrial growth, and bringing sustainable development to urban and rural areas alike.
​”This legislation opens up our power sector for increased private investment, promotes healthy competition, enhances consumer protection, and expands critical energy access to our underserved and unserved communities,” Governor Alia stated.
​The governor acknowledged that while the law was long overdue, his administration remains firmly committed to making up for lost time by creating an enabling environment where businesses can thrive without the crippling burden of erratic power supply.
​According to a statement released by the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media, Publicity, and Strategic Communication, Chief Solomon Iorpev, the implementation of the law is expected to achieve core milestones.
​This legislative milestone follows previous strategic moves by the Alia administration, including a partnership with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to develop a comprehensive state energy master plan.
​The administration aims to build a complementary, decentralised energy model. While acknowledging that the national grid remains important, state officials emphasize that Benue must reduce its total dependency on it by leaning heavily into embedded power generation, solar solutions, and captive energy networks.
​Governor Alia extended his commendation to the Benue State House of Assembly for their thorough legislative processing of the executive bill, reaffirming that a harmonious relationship between the executive and legislative arms remains vital for delivering true democratic dividends to the people of Benue.
