By Festus Ahon
For years, daily life in Delta State has been defined by the flicker of unstable electricity. From the bustling markets of Warri and Asaba to the rural communities of Ndokwa and Isoko, the persistent hum of generators has become the unofficial anthem of resilience.
This irony persists despite Delta State hosting several major power plants — in Ekrerhavwen-Agbarho near Ughelli, Sapele, and Okpai-Oluchi. Yet, the state remains severely under-supplied by the national power grid.
However, a new chapter is unfolding. On Thursday, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori signed the Delta State Electricity Bill into law — a landmark legislation poised to redefine the state’s energy trajectory.
Hailed by energy experts and development advocates alike, the new law marks a strategic turning point in Nigeria’s evolving power sector. It empowers Delta State to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity independently of the national grid — a move enabled by the 2023 constitutional amendment allowing states to legislate on electricity.
Dr. Benson Uwheru, Energy Governance Advisor and former Managing Director/CEO of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), described the governor’s assent as “a bold and transformational step” — one that signals the dawn of a new era in subnational energy autonomy, private sector investment, and industrial growth.
According to him, “It is more than a bill – it is a declaration of intent that Delta State is ready to lead the charge in Nigeria’s post-Constitutional power sector reform”.
Dr. Uwheru who is also a Risk and Infrastructure Consultant, also said the move effectively positions Delta State as one of Nigeria’s pioneers in leveraging decentralised electricity regulation to catalyse socio-economic growth.
“With this law, Delta can now establish its own Electricity Regulatory Commission, License generation, transmission, and distribution companies, Attract IPP investments for grid and off-grid solutions and develop policies tailored to Delta’s local energy realities.
“The new law will create practical opportunities in creating Industrial Clusters with dedicated power for Delta’s agro-industrial parks, oil and gas servicing zones, and manufacturing estates can now be powered through embedded generation and distribution models, reducing reliance on the national grid and eliminating power downtime.
“It will boost SME Competitiveness, Job Creation through Local Energy Ecosystems and Delta as an Energy Investment Destination.
“Governor Oborevwori’s assent to the Electricity Power Sector Bill is not just symbolic—it is strategic. It reflects a new kind of subnational leadership: bold, technical, reform-oriented, and pro-growth.
“With the right execution, Delta State can become Nigeria’s leading example of energy-led industrial transformation, improving lives, creating jobs, and powering prosperity—one community at a time.”
With the stroke of a pen, Governor Oborevwori didn’t just sign a bill; he sparked a movement of hope. He said: “Today, we are taking our destiny into our own hands,” the governor declared during the signing ceremony in Asaba. “Delta State will no longer be at the mercy of national grid failures and federal bureaucracy. We are charting our path to reliable, sustainable, and inclusive power. ”
The new law provides the legal and institutional framework for the establishment of the Delta State Electricity Regulatory Commission (DSERC), tasked with licensing independent power producers, setting tariffs, and ensuring consumer protection. Already, investors are circling, sensing the opportunity to tap into one of Nigeria’s most industrially ambitious states.
Delta is not the first to chart this path. Lagos, Ekiti and several states had made similar strides, but Delta’s move is particularly significant given its oil and gas rich status and potential for renewable energy sources — solar, and hydro. The state government has signalled plans to partner both public and private players to develop mini-grids and embedded power systems tailored to local needs.
For energy consultant Ejiro Uwagboe, the law could become a model for other resource-endowed states. “Delta has both the means and the motive to succeed,” she notes. “But success will depend on transparency, strong regulation, and community engagement.”
As the state begins its journey from legislation to light, one thing is clear: hope is no longer just a word in Delta — it’s a policy with power behind it.
The Governor also signed six other bills into law to wit; the Delta State Physical and Regional Planning Bill, 2024; Delta State Film and Video Censor’s Board Bill, 2024; Registration and Regulation of Private Veterinary Clinics (Amendment) Law, 2024; Child Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2024; Delta State Pet Control and Responsible Ownership Bill, 2024, and the Delta State College of Health Technology, Ovrode Bill, 2024.
Assenting to the bills, Oborevwori commended the leadership of the House for passing the important bills carefully crafted to address pressing issues and challenges to improve the quality of life of the people.
Meanwhile, the governor has assured Deltans and other residents in the state of his administration’s commitment to a sustainably safe and secure Delta State.
He said security agencies in the state were making progress in the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes through pre-emptive strikes and other combat operations.
Governor Oborevwori disclosed this on Thursday at the Swearing-in of the State Head of Service, Dr Mrs Minnie Oseji and inauguration of Pastor Austin Igbine as Chairman of the Board of Delta Printing and Publishing Company, Publishers of The Pointer newspaper, at Government House, Asaba.
While acknowledging that the challenges were enormous but surmountable, he said the security agencies had been “up -and- doing to ensure our security and safety.”
Congratulating the new Head of Service, Governor Oborevwori described Dr. Oseji as a quintessential civil servant – polite, dedicated, brilliant, and thorough, adding that she brings to her new office decades of exceptional stewardship, exemplary leadership, and undiluted passion for excellence.
He charged the new Head of Service to continually re-orientate the workers to tackle the perennial problems of absenteeism, lateness, unethical conduct, sharp practices, and poor maintenance culture.
