A pro-democracy group, Kwara Must Change, has set an ambitious target to make Kwara State the first in Nigeria to achieve 100 per cent electricity access.

The group highlighted that, given the ongoing efforts to transform Kwara State's capital into a smart city, aiming for complete electricity coverage within the next three years would signal the state's readiness for development and industrialisation.

In a statement by the Convener of Kwara Must Change, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group explained that no state in Nigeria currently has 100 per cent electricity access, although Lagos is close, at less than 1 per cent away from the target.

Hamzat noted that Lagos State currently boasts the highest electricity access in the country at 99.3 per cent, with Kwara State among the top three, at 90.6 per cent access, according to a news report from Punch.

“Kwara State is also in the forefront, due to consistent efforts of the governments, 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 chains of electricity, including energy equity and security,” Hamzat stated.

He urged the state government to make deliberate attempts to provide 100 per cent electricity access in the state within the next three years, to make Kwara State the first or one of the first three to achieve 100 per cent electricity access in the country.

Explaining to Arewa PUNCH the possibility of the task, Hamzat recalled that 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, thus making access to electricity a major target for the country and within the five years target, the entire Russian federation had electricity access.

“This therefore gave it the opportunity to concentrate on other aspects of power generation as part of its broad 10 year plan.

“Similarly, in 2015, China successfully connected all of its 1.4 billion population to electricity access,” he noted further.

The Kwara Must Change leader added that, in both Russia and China's effort to ensure electricity access, three fundamentals were key – providing electricity access as part of the 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,” he stressed.

Speaking further, Hamzat said that while the group was aware that there were ongoing efforts by the state government to fully take advantage of the new electricity deregulation in the country, it urged 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.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Government has reiterated its commitment to offering long-lasting solutions to the declining electricity supply, seeking synergy with the private independent power plant, Dapik Energy to formulate an electricity market policy that will enhance economic growth, foster the development of human capital and create the enabling environment for businesses and future investors in the state.

The state Commissioner for Energy, Engr. AbdulAzeez AbdulGaniy stated this on Friday during a proposal presentation by Dapik Energy at the Ministry's Conference Hall.

AbdulGaniy said, “We are ready to partner with you because we want a Kwara with a sustainable power market that will enable investors to come in order to create more employment opportunities and improve human capital development.”

In their remarks, both the Director, Personnel, Finance and Supply, Alhaji Hassan Taiye Afodun and the Director, Electrical Engineering, Engr. Anthony Ayodeji Alago, hailed the Chief Executive Officer, Dapik Energy, Mr. Dapo Adedoyin, for the innovative presentation which will enable Kwara State to achieve a sustainable energy market that will increase its revenue generation.

Earlier in his address, Adedoyin had remarked, “We want to develop Kwara State Electricity Market Policy, which will give us capabilities to generate, transmit and distribute electricity in the State through access to natural gas.

“This is in line with the 2023 Electricity Bill that was signed into law by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which gives the State the power to generate, transmit and distribute electricity for improved development,” Adedoyin added.

Therefore, he called for collaboration with the Federal Electrification Agency, Rural Electrification Agency, Distribution Companies and other stakeholders in the energy sector.