Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah says his administration will generate and distribute electricity in the state by the end of 2026.

Mbah unveiled the plans to tackle the challenges of epileptic power supply to businesses and residents of the state on Saturday at a town hall meeting with various stakeholders.

According to him, the State Electricity Regulatory Commission will be inaugurated soon as part of measures to actualise the goal, adding that the state would explore opportunities provided by the power sector reforms to generate and distribute power to boost businesses.

He said, “Electricity is a major infrastructural requirement for industrial development. We are going to set up the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission as we tackle all legal and regulatory issues in actualising the objective.

“Working with the private sector, we shall generate and distribute electricity in Enugu by the end of 2026. We will build transmitter lines and handle the distribution of power.

“People can come here to buy and distribute power. Our desire is to ensure we have a steady power supply to businesses and households in Enugu.”

Mbah also spoke on the ongoing legacy project aimed at repositioning the educational sector.

He disclosed that the 260 smart schools being constructed in the 260 political wards of the state will come alive by 2025.

According to Mbah, work has already commenced in 160 wards while the remaining 100 will commence soon.

He said the smart school will go beyond primary school education and over a 12-year compulsory and free education to every child born in the state.

He added that early life learning is included in the smart school initiative, and with that, the children will be absorbed from nursery to primary schools.

“They will be exposed to the modern learning environment and this will see a transition from chalkboard to smart boards and our pupils will no longer struggle with notebooks as they’ll be given notepads for their lesson notes,” adding that “our children are at the epicentre of our plans for the state.”

The governor also said that his administration is building 260 type II health centres across the wards, and 30 such health centres have already been awarded, and 100 will soon be awarded.

He further stated that the current maternal mortality rate in the state is “unacceptable and we’re doing everything to bring it down and to help tackle this.”

He said his administration has increased the number of nurses admitted into state-owned institutions, and the schools of nursing are getting the needed face-lift.

Recently, there has been a widespread blackout and worsening electricity supply across the country. (Saturday PUNCH)

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