The Ondo State Government has invited investors and development partners to tap into opportunities in its emerging electricity market, saying the state faces a power supply gap of more than 670 megawatts.
The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Johnson Alabi, made the call at the 2026 International Investment and Partnership Conference of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations Alliance (REEEA-A) in Lagos.
Alabi, who conveyed the greetings of Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said Ondo currently required about 700 megawatts of electricity to adequately support its economy but was receiving less than 30 megawatts.
He described the huge supply deficit as a major investment opportunity for private investors seeking to participate in electricity generation, distribution, renewable energy and infrastructure development.
According to him, the decentralisation of Nigeria’s electricity sector, technological advancement, rising energy demand and the evolving regulatory framework had created fresh opportunities for state governments to shape their energy future.
“States must move from being passive beneficiaries of national electricity policies to active participants in shaping Nigeria’s energy future,” he said.
Alabi said Ondo demonstrated an early commitment to electricity sector reform by enacting its electricity law in 2021, ahead of the Federal Government’s Electricity Act of 2023.
He added that the state was also among those that established two electricity regulatory institutions in October 2024, placing energy at the centre of its economic development strategy.
The commissioner said the government’s vision was to build a sustainable energy ecosystem capable of driving industrialisation, attracting investments, creating jobs, promoting innovation and improving the quality of life of residents.
He identified strong policy and regulatory institutions, private-sector investment, renewable energy solutions, electricity infrastructure and grid access, as well as innovation, technology and human capital development as key pillars of the state’s energy strategy.
Alabi said the government had moved beyond policy formulation to practical interventions, including the procurement of transformers to address electricity supply challenges and support communities.
He said solar-powered systems were also being deployed to provide electricity to rural communities under the state’s renewable energy initiatives.
The commissioner disclosed that Ondo had reviewed its electricity law to align it with the provisions of the 2023 Electricity Act, saying the move was aimed at strengthening the investment framework and boosting investor confidence.
He said the government was committed to creating an environment where electricity projects would be commercially viable and capable of delivering returns on investment.
Alabi also disclosed that the state government had approved the connection of 140 megawatts of electricity to the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, while other projects to improve electricity access were being developed across the state.
He urged investors, development partners and energy professionals to visit Ondo and explore opportunities in the state’s growing electricity market.
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The commissioner assured prospective investors of the government’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for sustainable investments, adding that the state would leverage ongoing electricity sector reforms to expand access to reliable and affordable power.
He said Ondo was ready to partner with investors and other stakeholders to build a sustainable electricity ecosystem that would drive economic growth and development.
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