AWKA, NIGERIA — Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has disclosed that the state requires approximately 1,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to meet its growing economic and industrial needs but currently receives only between 102MW and 120MW from the national grid.
The governor made the disclosure on Thursday, November 12, 2026, while declaring open the maiden Anambra State Electricity Market Investment Roundtable at the International Convention Centre in Awka.
Soludo used the occasion to call for increased private-sector investment in electricity generation and distribution, insisting that reliable power supply is essential to the state’s ambition of becoming a major commercial, industrial and technological hub.
According to him, the difference between the state’s electricity demand and available supply represents a significant challenge to businesses, manufacturers, investors and residents. He stressed that without dependable electricity, economic activities, industrialisation and productivity would remain constrained.
The governor said the investment roundtable should move beyond repeated complaints about inadequate electricity and focus instead on practical solutions, measurable commitments and clear implementation timelines.
He challenged stakeholders and prospective investors to develop an actionable and verifiable roadmap for closing the electricity supply gap, including identifying viable projects, investment opportunities and realistic commissioning schedules.
Soludo also assured participants that his administration was prepared to create an enabling environment for investors, not only in the electricity industry but across other sectors of the state’s economy.
The governor’s appeal comes as Anambra intensifies efforts to attract private capital into its electricity market. The state has established the Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ASERC), which is responsible for regulating electricity activities within its jurisdiction and promoting investment in the sector.
The commission’s regulatory responsibilities include overseeing electricity generation, distribution and supply, licensing operators, establishing tariff frameworks and protecting consumers. Its establishment followed the enactment of the Anambra State Electricity Law in April 2025.
Earlier in June 2026, the commission introduced four regulatory frameworks covering business rules, customer protection, licensing and investment. The measures were designed to provide clearer operating conditions, encourage competition and strengthen investor confidence in the state’s electricity market.
Speaking at Thursday’s roundtable, ASERC Chairman, Professor Frank Okafor, said the gathering was necessary because of the substantial electricity deficit facing the state’s business community.
He explained that the commission had been working to identify areas where electricity investments could become commercially viable, including industrial and commercial clusters with sufficient demand to support power generation projects.
Okafor said the objective was to provide prospective investors with clearer information about opportunities in the market rather than requiring them to begin feasibility assessments entirely from the beginning.
The chairman of the event, Dr Ernest Ndukwe, also called for greater private-sector participation in the electricity value chain, particularly in power generation and gas development.
Ndukwe expressed interest in participating in Anambra’s electricity investment drive and encouraged the state government to consider taking equity stakes in companies investing in the sector, describing such participation as a possible demonstration of confidence in the market.
Also contributing, the Chairman of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, Dr Emeka Offor, described the roundtable as an important platform for unlocking the state’s economic potential through improved electricity supply.
The event brought together government officials, electricity regulators, distribution companies, industry experts and prospective investors to discuss ways of addressing the state’s energy challenges.
The discussions are expected to support the development of an integrated energy resource plan for Anambra. A memorandum of understanding was signed at the event to facilitate work towards that plan.
For Anambra, the challenge extends beyond increasing the quantity of electricity available. Investors will also need confidence in regulatory stability, transparent tariffs, payment arrangements, infrastructure security and the ability to recover the cost of their investments.
The success of the state’s electricity ambitions will therefore depend on translating policy commitments into actual power projects capable of supplying businesses, industries and households.
With demand estimated at nearly 1,000MW against current grid supply of about 102MW to 120MW, Soludo’s message to investors was clear: Anambra needs substantial new investment to close its electricity gap and support its economic development plans.
