The Edo State Government is stepping up efforts to draw private capital into its electricity market as part of a broader push to strengthen power supply across the state. The Commissioner for Power, Paul Usenbo, outlined the strategy in a statement issued on Tuesday, noting that regulatory reforms, independent power projects and strategic equity participation are expected to establish Edo as a significant force in Nigeria’s power sector.
A Reformed Electricity Market
According to Usenbo, the state’s electricity sector has undergone substantial policy and institutional changes under Governor Monday Okpebholo, who marks his second anniversary in office on Thursday. The transition to state-level regulation, the licensing of private operators, the expansion of generation capacity, metering initiatives and strategic partnerships are all designed to widen electricity access and support industrial growth.
Central to the reform agenda is the Edo State Electricity Law 2024, signed by the governor in February 2025, which provides the legal framework for private-sector participation in electricity generation, transmission and distribution. The establishment of the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, following the shift away from federal oversight by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, has further strengthened the state’s ability to regulate its own electricity market.
Licences Issued to Private Operators
Under the new regulatory arrangement, 12 companies have received electricity generation and distribution licences. They include CCETC Ogua Energy Limited, GTL Power Limited, IZ Energy, Etin Power Limited, Edo North Electricity Limited, Mid-Western Bulk Electricity Company Limited and Tetracore Power Company Limited, alongside Victoria Power and Infrastructure, New Hampshire Capital Limited, Hydra Energy Solutions Limited, Nigeria Bottling Company Limited and Halimatu Musa Hospital Limited.
The commission has also granted BEDC Electricity Edo Limited a six-month provisional licence to operate within the state’s electricity market, subject to regulatory requirements covering compliance, transparency, accountability and consumer protection. Usenbo described the move as part of efforts to build a more competitive and accountable electricity market in Edo State.
Equity Stake in the Ologbo Power Plant
A key investment development is the state’s acquisition of a 10 per cent equity stake in the proposed 100-megawatt power plant at Ologbo, negotiated with CCETC and First Bank. The arrangement makes the state an equity partner in the project, with prospects for recurring revenue, job creation and improved electricity supply to businesses and industries.
The Ologbo project also includes a proposed 300-tonne-per-day liquefied natural gas facility, for which Governor Okpebholo performed the groundbreaking ceremony in February 2026. The project is expected to strengthen the state’s energy value chain and help meet the growing electricity needs of industries.
Generation Projects Across the State
Beyond Ologbo, Usenbo said the government is pursuing a proposed 200-megawatt independent power project in Edo North, alongside distributed generation and renewable energy investments aimed at expanding supply and improving access across the state’s three senatorial districts.
Metering and Customer Billing Reforms
On metering, the commissioner said the Ministry of Power is implementing a mass metering programme, with more than 30,000 meters reportedly deployed and over 38,000 allocated to the state under the first phase of the free metering initiative. The government is also pursuing plans to establish a meter assembly facility through a private-sector partnership, alongside a debulking programme designed to move communities from bulk electricity billing to individual customer accounts.
The reforms nonetheless face a critical test: their success will depend on whether the proposed projects translate into increased electricity generation, improved distribution and more reliable power supply for businesses and households across Edo State.
