By Merit Ibe

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has expressed the optimism of seeing a light at the end of the tunnel of electricity generation following the amended Constitution signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Association explained that the move, which has given state  governments power to own, generate and transmit their own electricity, will not only break the monopoly of the DISCOs but will, ultimately improve efficiency in electricity generation, transmission and distribution.

President Buhari, hd signed into law the constitutional amendment allowing states in the country to licence, generate, transmit and distribute electricity.

With this amended Constitution, the country’s over dependence on one source for electricity generation can no longer be on for long all things being equal.

Chairman, MAN, Apapa branch, Frank Onyebu, while evaluating the impact of the latest development, lamented that the challenge of inadequate electricity supply has lingered for too long, creating other problems which have affected the quality of life and posed challenges to the  business environment.

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Applauding the amendment which he said was good for the economy, Onyebu wished that the various state governments will take up the challenge, as being nearer to the people will be better focused to address their needs, including power needs.

He said a state could, for instance, embark on an IPP for an industrial estate while another, a residential estate based on their peculiarities.

The chairman advised that the move should also be extended to the local governments and in fact, corporate entities and associations like MAN, proposing  that all encumbrances to the production and distribution of electricity should be removed.

Enumerating the benefits of the signed amendment, he said: “This will not only break the monopoly of the DISCOs but will, ultimately improve efficiency in electricity generation, transmission and distribution.

“This should drive down the cost of energy and lead to an improvement of the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses, especially manufacturers. This will lead to more investments, more foreign capital inflows and the economy will be better for it.”