The Kogi State Government has reaffirmed commitment to positioning the state as a leading destination for power sector investment, with renewed efforts to strengthen electricity supply as a catalyst for industrialisation and economic growth.
This was the focus of a One-Day Conference on the Proposed Multi-Year Tariff Order by the Kogi Electricity Distribution Limited, organised by the Kogi State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) in Lokoja.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Economic Adviser and Chief Executive Officer of the Kogi State Investment Promotion and Public-Private Partnership Agency, Aliyu Inda-Salami, said the government is creating an enabling environment that will attract investors into the electricity sector.
He noted that reliable power remains critical to unlocking Kogi’s vast agricultural and mineral resources through local processing and value addition.
“Capital naturally flows to destinations with strong policies, regulations and institutions. Our goal is to make Kogi the preferred destination for electricity and energy investments, creating industries, jobs, revenue and sustainable economic development,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KERC, Engr. Ibrahim Abdwaaris, disclosed that the commission is developing a state-specific electricity tariff framework that will balance consumer protection with the need to attract investment.
He credited the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for taking advantage of the Electricity Act 2023 to establish the legal and regulatory framework for the electricity market in Kogi State.
“The governor moved swiftly to establish the framework required for Kogi State to regulate its own electricity market, laying the foundation for the progress we are making today,” Abdwaaris stated, expressing confidence that improved electricity services would encourage prompt payment of electricity bills and support network expansion.
The Commissioner for Market Rates and Competition at KERC, Abdusalam Yusuf, said the proposed tariff system is performance-based, ensuring that electricity operators can only recover investments that result in measurable improvements in service delivery.
He added that operators who fail to meet agreed performance standards may be denied tariff adjustments.
Yusuf further disclosed that the commission is currently at the fifth stage of its nine-step tariff-setting process, which includes stakeholder consultations, data validation, tariff modelling and further public engagements before the final tariff order is made public.
