By Emmanuel Oduara
…Under Governor Akeredolu’s administration, the state’s revenue has grown from about 700 million to over N3.5 billion in a month.
This growth Engr. Obe said “has been intentional, with the Governor ensuring that all cabinet members are doing the right thing and receiving the necessary support.”
Engr. Obe who solicit the support of ministries, agencies and parastatals especially certifying and authorizing government Institutions, adds that “the seaport in Ondo State is moving into the next phase of development and that all authorizations have been obtained, indicating that the port will soon become a reality.
Arakunrin Akeredolu expressing his commitment says the port will receive all the support it deserves. He has urged everyone to support the project and ensure its success.
The development of the seaport in Ondo State is a significant project that will bring many benefits to the state and the country as a whole.
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“The port will provide a gateway for international trade and commerce, creating jobs and boosting economic growth. It will also improve the transportation of goods and services, reducing the cost of doing business and increasing efficiency.
“The development is now in the next phase, we have got all authorisations. Arakunrin Akeredolu said, and I quote “We will give it all that it deserved, so he charged everyone to key into it,” the Commissioner said.
The Energy Commissioner in a statement says Ondo is one of the states that passed the subnational electric power sector law in 2020, and the Governor approved the electricity law in December 2020. This law has given the state government the authority to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity.
However, it is important to note that this does not mean the subnational can build power plants themselves. Instead, the state government plans to partner with the private sector to drive the electricity market at the subnational level.
The state government aims to avoid wasting public funds by investing taxpayers’ money into what should be a private sector-driven initiative. The bureaucracy is not trained to run a business, so the focus will be on providing authorization, approval, a Certificate of Occupancy, and the regulatory framework needed for businesses to thrive.
Citing a case he said, the Agbakagba power station in Akure is being promoted by a private sector player, and the state government’s role will be to provide the necessary support and regulatory framework to enable these projects to thrive.
“The constitutional amendment allowing sub nationals to operate effectively in the electricity market is seen as an enabler for private sector involvement. Private sector players can approach the sub nationals for licenses to distribute power, which is expected to improve service delivery and address inefficiencies in the power sector.” the Ondo State Commissioner said.
Engr. Obe further emphasizes that underperforming institutions in power that have failed to provide electricity for the citizens of Ondo state will have no other choice than to upgrade or pave the way for the entry of serious energy firms.
He said, “Some of their licenses may be withdrawn, while institutions that are willing to perform will be supported in the state. The welfare and wellbeing of our people especially in the area of electricity is going to be a priority”
The Ondo State Commissioner stated that the recent amendment to the Nigerian constitution and the assent given to the new electricity act by President Tinubu has provided the Ondo state government with the opportunity to amend the existing state legislation on electricity.
According to him, the amendment in the Ondo state electricity law, will govern areas that are not only covered by the national grid but also everywhere that needs electricity in all regions of the state, and the state government will be able to control the distribution of electricity.
“A recent electricity project approved by Governor Akeredolu was delayed recently, for nearly six months because the NEMSA asked us to pay a quantum of money which stopped us from energizing that project.
NEMSA is requesting a payment of N500,000 for an unoccupied estate, which puts us in a Catch-22 situation. However, we can now issue a license, and NEMSA will no longer be able to prevent us from using the estate as a pilot scheme for other forms of embedded connections with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company.