The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday announced that it was shutting down its forum offices in some states in Nigeria and handing over their operations to the respective electricity commissions of the affected states.

In a statement yesterday, the commission noted that it had officially transferred regulatory authority to Enugu, Ekiti, Kogi, Edo, Ondo, Imo and Oyo states, in accordance with the new Electricity Act 2023.

As a result, the newly established State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) in those states, it stressed, will now oversee all aspects of electricity regulation.

Consequently, NERC said it closed its forum offices in Enugu and Ekiti states on October 22, while its Imo office will be shut down on December 31.

In addition, the power sector regulator pointed out that its Oyo office will close on February 5, 2025; Edo on February 20, while Kogi office will be shut by March 12 next year.

“Customers in these states are encouraged to direct any electricity-related complaints to their respective SERCs moving forward. NERC extends its best wishes to the new SERCs as they embark on the important task of establishing effective regulation in their states,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the federal government has said it is committed to building mini-grids in some higher institutions in the country to reduce the cost of electricity consumption by the institutions.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, when he inspected the advanced solar micro grid project, being built at the University of Abuja, a statement by his spokesman, Bolaji Tunji, said yesterday.

Stressing that the project is about 95 per cent completed, the statement noted that the university solar project would be replicated in other universities, tertiary institutions and teaching hospitals across the country.

“No critical sector can perform optimally without stability, functionality, reliability and affordability of energy. Energy is like the blood that every sector needs to perform optimally, which is the reason why President Bola Tinubu has prioritised power as a sector.

“The backbone of economic growth and sustainable long time human capacity and human development lies in education, which is why we have focused on our tertiary institution andteaching hospital facilities, to ensure that they are shielded from the high cost of energy,” the minister said.

He added that the solar project would reduce the reliance of the recipient institutions on the grid.Adelabu equally called on the University of Abuja authorities to ensure adequate, regular maintenance and protection of the grid.

He announced that the project would be commissioned by the president himself in December this year.

The Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, informed the minister that the issue of electricity was a major challenge to the institution and the solar project would come as a relief to the entire university community.

“As you know, electricity is very critical to us. The cost of running our generators is so high because of the high cost of diesel. I often get calls and text messages from our students that there is no light.

“But this is a big relief to us. University of Abuja is very strategic and everyone in the FCT has interest in the university, because it is the only one with a federal mandate in Abuja,” the vice chancellor said.

The solar energy project is being handled by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in collaboration with the Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP) and Energising Education Programme (EEP). (THISDAY)