Oyo state plans fuller power indepence marketing by 2035

Oyo state plans.fuller power indepence marketing by 2035

By 

Olawale Ogunbusola

 The Oyo State government has commenced the process of establishing its own electricity market, with a clear target of achieving hundred percent power independence across the state by 2035.

This was revealed by the Commissioner for Energy, Prof. Dahud Sangodoyin during a stakeholders' engagement on the draft Oyo State Electricity policy and Electricity bill, held in Ibadan,on Thursday.

According to Prof. Sangodoyin, the review of the draft bill and policy is a crucial step toward establishing a legal and regulatory framework that empowers Oyo State to issue licenses for transmission, and distribution within the state.

The Commissioner outlined the state's strategic roadmap, which includes Short-term, Mid-Term, and long-term goals saying that in the Short-term, the government plans to open up the market to private sector participation once the law is enacted, enabling local generation and distribution of electricity.

He reaffirmed Governor Seyi Makinde's commitment to leveraging electricity access to improve both the standard of living and economic growth in the state.

In his remark, the Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Abiodun Aikomo emphasized the urgent need for a modern legal framework that aligns with current realities in the power sector and empowers the state to manage electricity generation, distribution, and regulation more effectively.

He explained that the new law would addresses the broader market ecosystem from independent operators and investors licensing to theft prevention, regulatory powers, and clean energy.

The Proposed Oyo State Electricity bill includes key reforms; Strengthening the state electricity regulatory commission, encouraging clean and renewable energy development, providing legal backing for electricity related offenses and enforcement, and streamlining existing electricity related laws and edicts in the state.