By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Enugu State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kingsley Tochi Udeh, has disclosed plans by government to establish a legal framework to protect the state’s electricity market from criminalities, such as vandalism and energy theft.
Udeh stated this when the Managing Director (MD) and management staff of Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited paid him an advocacy visit in his office in Enugu, South-East Nigeria.
He stated that the legal framework will ensure that the effort of the State Government in expanding and securing its electricity market is not defeated.
According to him, there is a need to protect the state’s electricity infrastructure and installations, including new transformers procured by Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah to ensure that public amenities and communities in the state enjoy improved power supply.
He charged the management of Mainpower to live up to its responsibility, while assuring that the Ministry would support the company to succeed, being the first electricity distribution sub-company in Nigeria, in line with the state government’s electricity law and policy.
Udeh disclosed that the Gov. Mbah administration is investing heavily towards power sufficiency in the state, which, he stated, is needed for the industrialization and economic growth of the state.
Earlier, the MD of Mainpower, Dr. Ernest Mupwaya, thanked the Attorney General for the audience granted to them and commended the State Government for setting the pace in the reform of the Nigerian power sector.
He added that the meeting has afforded an opportunity to discuss important issues, which included the effective prosecution of electricity thieves and vandals.
Also speaking during the visit, Mainpower Company Secretary, Anthony Achebe, commended the prosecutors in the State Ministry of Justice, disclosing that their records and output in prosecuting electricity thieves and vandals stand out when compared to other states in the South-East.
