Oyo State Government on Thursday restated its determination to build a reliable and sustainable power infrastructure that will move the people from poverty to prosperity.

The State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, who also serves as Acting Chairman of the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dahud Shangodoyin, made this known in a statement released by the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, in Ibadan, the state capital.

Shangodoyin noted that the state has commenced a more sustainable and technically robust 12-megawatt Ibadan Independent Power Gas Project. The project will serve not only the government secretariat but also some strategic public institutions. He explained that the initiative would reduce operating costs and expand the economy of the state.

The commissioner stressed that Oyo State currently receives 183 megawatts from the national grid, which is far below the minimum of 520 megawatts required for economic growth. He added that the state government has invested in the 12-megawatt Ibadan Independent Gas Project with plans to add about 120 megawatts before the expiration of the current administration in 2027.

Shangodoyin described the power project as a shift from experimental power supply to a structured, scalable, and integrated electricity solution. This, he said, would support industrial growth, attract investors, create job opportunities, and boost the state’s economy.

He stated that as part of its responsibilities, the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission regulates operators in the electricity industry in the state. He therefore called on residents to always channel their complaints about the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company to the commission.

“There is no meaningful development that we can have in the state without reliable infrastructure. And, at the heart of this infrastructure lies energy. Governor Makinde, from Omituntun 1.0 to 2.0, has been building the foundation for sustainable economic growth through deliberate investments in power and infrastructure.

“Nigeria has witnessed a landmark reform in the energy sector through the Electricity Act 2023. This law empowers each state to manage its own generation, distribution, and transmission of electricity, and equally to regulate its own electricity market.

“With this in place, and with the Ministry of Energy, which also ensures that we reduce the deficit of access to electricity, within the next three quarters, the state will be witnessing progress in this sector because we are opening up the electricity market in Oyo State through the Oyo State Electricity Commission,” he stated.

Shangodoyin said the state has had almost 30 investors who are willing to come to Oyo because the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission now has an integrated electricity resource plan, 2026 to 2036.

“We know that the minimum electricity required is about 520 megawatts. Right now, what we have is just 182 megawatts, which means we are having less than 25 per cent of what is required minimally. Now, the state has invested in a 12-megawatt Ibadan Independent Gas Project, which, if added to 182 megawatts, will give us about 194 megawatts.

“Now, that is not all. The plan of the governor, through this commission, is to add about 120 megawatts between Quarter 2 of this year and Quarter 2 of 2027, which means we will be aiming at 300 megawatts, which will be at least close to 60 per cent of what is needed to grow the economy of the state,” the commissioner explained.

He stated that the state had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Shell for the distribution of gas needed for power generation.

On the key initiatives of the commission, Shangodoyin said, “The independent power project will help us to power critical infrastructure within Ibadan. These include the Secretariat, the Government House, BCOS, the Oyo State High Court, the Customary Court around the Iyanganku area, State Hospital at Adeoyo Yemetu, Lekan Salami Sports Complex, and all the streetlights around these areas.”

He added that the project would support the expansion of businesses along that route and improve the living standards of residents in the areas.

Present at the event were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Energy/Acting Member, Strategy and Finance, Abiodun Adedoja; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources/Acting Secretary, Michael Ayanniyi; Acting Member (Technical), the state Regulatory Electricity Board, Ezekiel Ojekunle; Acting Member (Legal), Omolara Omoremi; Director, Administrative and Supplies, Bamigbola; and Senior Accountant, Omolola Lucas.