Enugu Establishes Legal Framework To Protect Electricity Market

ENUGU – The Enugu State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kingsley Tochi Udeh, has announced plans by the Ministry of Justice to establish a legal framework for protecting the state’s electricity market from criminality, such as vandalism and energy theft.

Udeh stated this when the Managing Director and the management staff of Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited paid him an advocacy visit in his office in Enugu.

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 subco in Nigeria, in line with the state government’s electricity law and policy.

Udeh disclosed that the administration of Dr. Mbah is investing heavily towards power sufficiency in the state, which he stated is needed for the industrialisation and economic growth of the state.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Mainpower, Dr. Ernest Mupwaya, thanked the Hon Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice for the audience granted to them and commended the Enugu State Government for setting the pace in the reform of the Nigeria 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, Anthony Achebe, Mainpower Company Secretary, commended the prosecutors in the Enugu State Ministry of justice, disclosing that their records and outputs in prosecuting electricity thieves and vandals stand out when compared to other states in the South East.