Oyo govt rolls out plans to expand power supply

The Oyo State Government has stepped up efforts to transform its electricity sector, taking advantage of recent legal reforms and strategic investments aimed at improving power supply and accelerating economic growth across the state.

This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Energy and Chairman of the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Prof. Daud Shangodoyin, during a press briefing held at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

Addressing journalists at the joint press conference organised by the Ministry of Energy and the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Prof. Shangodoyin described the Electricity Act as a landmark reform that has reshaped the power sector.

“The Electricity Act is a major turning point. It has empowered states to generate, transmit, distribute, and regulate electricity within their own jurisdictions,” he said.

He explained that the Act grants states the authority to independently manage their electricity markets, marking a significant shift from the previously centralised system.

According to him, Governor Engineer Seyi Makinde took a proactive step in 2024 by establishing the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission to effectively manage and oversee the state’s electricity market in line with the provisions of the new law.

“His Excellency moved decisively to establish the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission so we can take full control of our electricity future,” he added.

Prof. Shangodoyin further revealed that the state has begun liberalising its electricity market to attract private sector participation, noting that nearly 30 investors have already expressed interest.

“We have opened up our electricity market, and already close to 30 investors have indicated interest in partnering with Oyo State,” he stated.

Despite this progress, he highlighted the existing gap in power supply, stating that Oyo State requires a minimum of 520 megawatts to sustain economic growth, while the current generation stands at about 182 megawatts, fluctuating between 150 and 180 megawatts.

“Our minimum requirement is about 520 megawatts, but what we currently have is just around 182 megawatts, and even that is not stable,” he explained.

He stressed that the newly established commission now serves as the sole regulatory authority for electricity operations within the state.

“No operator can function in Oyo State’s electricity market without obtaining a licence from the commission. We are now fully in charge of regulation within the state,” he emphasised.

The commissioner also outlined key initiatives aimed at improving electricity access, particularly through the Independent Power Project (IPP), including the electrification of critical infrastructure such as the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, Government House, the State Secretariat, courts, and schools.

“We are prioritising critical infrastructure—government institutions, courts, schools—through our Independent Power Project, and we will expand this across the state,” he said.

Responding to criticisms labelling some state-led power projects as unsuccessful, Prof. Shangodoyin firmly refuted such claims. He clarified that the 11-megawatt IPP has been completed and was partially operational during its testing phase.

“The project is not a failure. It was completed and operated for about five months, supplying approximately 5 megawatts to key government facilities,” he stated.

He added that the testing phase helped the government identify technical issues that are now being addressed for improved performance.

“We used that period to study the system, identify gaps, and make necessary corrections. We rely on data, not assumptions,” he noted.

Prof. Shangodoyin expressed strong optimism that the ongoing reforms and investments would yield visible improvements in electricity supply within the next three quarters.

“Within the next three quarters, the people of Oyo State will begin to see significant improvements in electricity access and reliability,” he assured.

The briefing was attended by key government officials, including the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, as well as senior representatives from the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Energy.