Communities across Plateau State have expressed gratitude to Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang following the commissioning and distribution of 70 electricity transformers aimed at improving power supply and stimulating grassroots economic development.
Residents and community leaders who spoke during the commissioning ceremony described the initiative as a major intervention that would revive economic activities in areas that have long suffered from poor or nonexistent electricity supply.
Speaking on behalf of the benefiting communities, Da Gufwar Ishaku Audu said the installation of the transformers would restore economic vitality to several rural and peri-urban communities.
He noted that many small businesses had struggled for years due to unreliable electricity, forcing operators to depend on costly generators or shut down entirely.
According to him, the transformers represent not only power infrastructure but renewed opportunities for productivity, job creation and improved livelihoods.
Audu assured that the communities would take collective responsibility for protecting the installations from vandalism and misuse, describing them as shared assets that would benefit future generations.
The distribution of the transformers forms part of a broader electricity expansion programme being implemented by the Plateau State Government to strengthen power transmission and distribution across the state.
Speaking at the event, Governor Mutfwang said the initiative was designed to expand electricity access, particularly in underserved communities.
He explained that while the government initially approved the procurement of 55 transformers, the number was later increased to 70 following additional requests from communities in need of power infrastructure.
“Access to electricity is not a privilege; it is a right,” the governor said, emphasizing that reliable power supply is critical to economic growth, job creation and improved living standards.
The governor also disclosed that mobilization had been completed for the installation of a 132KVA transmission line expected to serve the Central and Southern Senatorial Zones of the state, which he said would significantly strengthen electricity distribution capacity.
He further assured residents of Miango and Rukuba communities that negotiations with the Jos Electricity Distribution Company had been finalized to restore power to areas that had experienced prolonged outages.
Beyond the immediate intervention, Mutfwang revealed that the state government is pursuing a long-term vision of transforming Plateau into an energy hub.
“Our ambition is that within the next two years, Plateau State will become a net seller of energy,” he stated.
To achieve this goal, the governor said the government is strengthening collaboration with the Nigerian Electricity Supply Company while also investing in solar and other renewable energy projects to diversify power sources.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Hon. Bashir Lawandi, explained that the transformer distribution is part of a wider rural electrification programme designed to drive economic growth and improve public services.
He said improved power infrastructure would help stabilize voltage supply, reduce outages and support residential, commercial and industrial activities across Plateau State.
Representatives of power sector stakeholders, including officials from JEDC and NESCO, as well as traditional rulers, community leaders and government officials who attended the event, commended the Plateau State Government for what they described as a strategic investment in the state’s energy future.
