The Plateau State government has stated its commitment to a vibrant and complete electrification of its rural communities.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Jos office of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Governor Jonah Jang, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Mr. Idi Waziri, said, “rural electrification is our major concern, because that is where the masses are”.

He said that it is in pursuance of rural electrification that the government is already working with a private organization to construct a power plant at Shimankar, a rural community in Shendam LGA of the state, and that in the next few days or weeks the government will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with GIZ so as to partner in providing among other things Solar energy in Plateau.
Commending the move by the Federal Government to establish an electricity regulating body, the governor said, “service distribution will not be properly achieved without a regulating body”.

The Plateau State government has stated its commitment to a vibrant and complete electrification of its rural communities.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Jos office of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Governor Jonah Jang, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Mr. Idi Waziri, said, “rural electrification is our major concern, because that is where the masses are”.

He said that it is in pursuance of rural electrification that the government is already working with a private organization to construct a power plant at Shimankar, a rural community in Shendam LGA of the state, and that in the next few days or weeks the government will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with GIZ so as to partner in providing among other things Solar energy in Plateau.
Commending the move by the Federal Government to establish an electricity regulating body, the governor said, “service distribution will not be properly achieved without a regulating body”.

Speaking further, Jang called on the regulatory body to look into the issue of adequate provision of prepaid metres.
According to him, if a consumer does not know or is not sure of what he or she is paying, there is likely going to be extortion, exploitation and/or distrust.

The Minister of Power and Energy, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, represented by Mrs. Bola Laditan, said that the ministry will continue to give policy direction framework and that their desire is to maximize access to electricity.
Laditan said that the Ministry of Power and Energy has, as part of its plans, to collaborate with states governments to establish states’ ministries of power and energy in order to achieve its goals.

She said: “The electricity regulating commission will be working within a five-year strategic plan. Government will not rest until it achieves its goal of efficient electricity supply to customers.”

Senator Victor Lar, who performed the commissioning ceremony, called on the regulatory body and Federal Ministry of Power and Energy to carry out a massive sensitization to the ordinary people on the existence of a regulating body and should create room for customers to be able to lodge their complaints through text and not just email “because not many people may be able to access the net”.
Also speaking, the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) CEO, Mr Mete Baysal, said: “Genuine complaints will be utilized to meet the needs of customers. We are obligated to provide the best service and are committed to the improvement of service delivery and to have quality, clean and uninterrupted power supply.”

Plateau State is said to be the tenth state where the electricity regulatory commission has been established.

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Plateau Govt expresses commitment to rural electrification