Victor EzejaA pro-democracy group, Kwara Must Change, has charged the Kwara State government to work towards becoming the first state in Nigeria to achieve 100 per cent electricity access in the next three years.
The group also stressed that considering the ongoing efforts to make Kwara State capital, Ilorin, a smart city, targeting 100 per cent electricity access for the state in the next three years will be an indication of their readiness for development and industrialization.
The group gave the charge in a statement by the Convener of Kwara Must Change, Abdulrazaq Hamzat. It explained that, currently, there’s no state in Nigeria with 100 per cent electricity access, except Lagos which is less than 1 per cent away from the target.
According to Hamzat, Lagos state currently has the highest electricity access in the country with 99.3 per cent, adding that Kwara State is among the top three, with 90.6 per cent access.
“Kwara State is also in the forefront, due to consistent efforts of government over the years, but it can do more to expand electricity access and complete the task once and for all and move to other value chain of electricity, including energy equity and security”
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Hamzat said that the Kwara State Government should make deliberate attempt to provide 100% electricity access in the state within the next 3 years, to make Kwara State the first or one of the first to have 100% electricity access in the country.
Explaining the possibility of the task, Hamzat said, in November 1920, Vladimir Lenin, leader of the then Soviet Union (Russia) issued a slogan identifying electricity as the only remaining step in Russia’s development, making access to electricity a major target for the country and within the five years, the entire Russia federation had electricity access, giving them opportunity to concentrate on other aspect of power generation as part of its broad 10 years plan.
“Similarly, in 2015, China successfully connected all of its 1.4 billion population to electricity access” he said.
Hamzat added that, in both Russia and China’s effort to electricity access, three things are key, in making electricity access a part of development plan, articulating the mission appropriately to all stakeholders, at all levels and making it the cornerstone of assessing progress and ensuring the right technology mix, especially at the rural areas.
“Achieving 100 per cent electricity access will open a new chapter in our quest for energy security and this will greatly help in attracting investment”
Kwara Must Change said while it is aware that there’s ongoing efforts by the state government to fully take advantage of the new electricity deregulation in the country, it urges the government to include 100 per cent electricity access within the next three years as part of its broad target in the Kwara State energy sector.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
