The Edo State Government has opened up and liberalised the electricity market space to ensure private players are encouraged to invest in the sector.
The Commissioner for Mining and Energy, Engr. Ethan Uzamere made this known on Thursday, while commissioning the Ajoki 24 Hours Gas-Powered Electricity Project provided to Ajoki community by Enageed Resources Limited.
“Monopoly is detrimental to the economy and the opening up of the market has ensured that already existing players wake up to their responsibilities. Edo State is no longer a Civil Service State but a destination of choice for investment and industrialisation.
“We will not rest on our oars. We will continue to ensure that all private sector players in the energy market are provided with the enabling environment and the tools with which to function. We will continue to eliminate bureaucratic red tape.” he said.
While stating that the ministry runs an open-door policy to ensure that every willing investor is motivated and given the requisite assistance Engr. Uzamere pointed out that it is this same accessibility that has ensured the speedy resolution of most energy related issues in Edo State.
Engr. Uzamere who urged the people to own the asset said that the project will improve the economic activities of the people in the vicinity, provide jobs for the people and increase their hours of productivity and also reduce the issue of crime to the barest minimum.
The Commissioner commended Enageed Resources Ltd the operators of OML 148 acreage for conceiving and nurturing the laudable idea of converting the resource which could have been discharged into the atmosphere to contribute to global warming into a valueable project, adding that this aligns with the Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) agenda of the Governor Obaseki administration.
“Going forward we will partner with you on the scalability of this initiative to meet the needs of an even greater segment of the society. I want to implore members of this community to own these assets and protect them.
“I will communicate with the security agencies in this area as well as the local vigilante to ensure that they prioritise the protection and surveillance of the facilities of this electrification project”.
