By Ebuka Onyekwelu, PhD
Anambra State Governor Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, has made a strong case for power-sector investors to look to Anambra State. Delivering his keynote address at the maiden Electricity Market Investment Roundtable, organized by the Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ASERC) and held at the International Convention Centre in Awka, Soludo said Anambra State is ready for investors. “This is just not another function coming to lament…without electricity, there will be no manufacturing…without energy, little else can happen…for us, it is very consequential. We are here to do business. Anambra is ready for business,” Governor Soludo assured. The Governor further pointed to investment opportunities at the Mixed Industrial City with an aerotropolis, calling on investors to explore many available investment opportunities.
Just before he declared the roundtable open, Professor Soludo took the audience through the expected outcome of the gathering as well as some of the challenges of energy in Anambra State. “Anambra needs about one thousand megawatts, but currently gets about one hundred and twenty megawatts,” Soludo narrated. According to Governor Soludo, there is “lamentation and opportunity…the gap in between is what we are trying to fill, and that is why we are here. Tell us when, where, and how. That is what this is about…Let’s get the plan… a clear roadmap, actionable, verifiable roadmap. Anambra is a land of opportunities. This is a summit for closing deals. Let’s get it done,” Governor Soludo charged as he declared the roundtable open.
In his remarks, the Chairman of ASERC, Professor Frank Okafor, thanked the Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, for leading the innovation on energy in Anambra. He also pointed out that there is a substantial power deficit in Anambra and that it is what the roundtable intends to address. “We are here to think together, and come up with a solution that will help sort the challenge,” Professor Okafor said.
On his part, Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, a highly respected telecom expert who was the chairman of the event, described Governor Soludo as someone who “has the capacity to make the changes that we are gathered to see to.” Engr. Ndukwe also expressed interest in investing in the electricity reforms in Anambra State. “I want to be a player in the electricity revolution that is coming up in Anambra State”, he said, urging the government to also “own stakes in companies coming to invest in power in Anambra State. It’s a vote of confidence,” he said. Speaking on the energy challenge in Anambra State, Engr Ndukwe said tariff methodology, a strong regulatory framework, among others, will strengthen attraction for private sector investment in the power sector in Anambra State.
The event was well attended by officials of the Government of Anambra State, stakeholders in the power sector across Nigeria, including Sir Emeka Offor, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association; Afam Osigwe, SAN, Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC); Dr. Musiliu Oseni, MD of First Power, Engr. Okechukwu Okafor, among many other stakeholders and industry leaders.
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