By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State is set to establish and assume oversight of its electricity market, enabling it to participate actively in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.
This follows the passage of the Anambra State Electricity Bill 2025 by the State House of Assembly during its plenary on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
The bill, which marks a significant milestone in the state’s economic and infrastructural development, aligns with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision of making Anambra a livable and prosperous state. With its passage, Anambra now joins the ranks of states such as Enugu, Ekiti, Ondo, and Imo, which have already taken legislative steps towards establishing their independent electricity markets.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Nkem Udeze, Ph.D., commended his fellow lawmakers for their diligence and commitment in fine-tuning and perfecting the bill before its passage. He particularly applauded the House Committee on Power and Water Resources, chaired by Hon. Golden Chukwuebuka Iloh (Ihiala II Constituency), for its meticulous work in ensuring the bill addressed key challenges in the state’s electricity sector.
In addition to the Electricity Bill, the Anambra State Indigenous Traditional Medicine Practices Bill 2025 was also passed into law. Speaker Udeze lauded the Joint Committee on Judiciary & Justice, led by Hon. Patrick Okafor (Onitsha North II Constituency), and the Committee on Health, chaired by Hon. Muobike Anthony (Aguata II Constituency), for their role in refining the bill before its eventual passage.
The Anambra State Electricity Law 2025 is expected to drive industrialization and socio-economic growth by tackling long-standing structural challenges in the power sector. It will address metering inefficiencies, improve service delivery, promote investments in renewable energy, and integrate advanced power solutions into the state’s energy framework. Furthermore, the law enables the state to harness the full benefits of the 2023 Electricity (Amendment) Act, ensuring a competitive and efficient electricity market tailored to the specific needs of Anambra’s economy.
Reacting to the passage of the bill, the Anambra State Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka, described the development as a landmark achievement that would reposition Anambra’s energy sector for sustainable growth.
He emphasized that the new law would facilitate increased private-sector participation, attract investments in power generation and distribution, and ultimately provide Anambra residents and businesses with more reliable and affordable electricity.
According to him, the state government is already making arrangements to implement the law effectively, including setting up the necessary regulatory frameworks and collaborating with key stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to a decentralized electricity market.
Commissioner Chukwuemeka, in an interview with this reporter, Izunna Okafor, also noted that Governor Soludo’s administration remains committed to modernizing the state’s power infrastructure, reducing dependency on the national grid, and maximizing local resources for energy production.
While urging investors and industry players to take advantage of the new opportunities presented by the law, he also reassured residents that the government would prioritize consumer protection, ensuring that electricity services remain fair, competitive, and efficient.
According to the Commissioner, the state will establish the Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission, which will be in charge of energy regulation as well as Anambra State Electricity Management Agency that will be saddled with the responsibility of managing the state’s electricity market.
The passage of the Anambra State Electricity Bill 2025 signals a new era of energy independence and economic transformation for the state, with expectations that its implementation will significantly boost productivity and enhance the overall quality of life for Anambra residents.
