9th December, 2021
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unveiled an electricity sustainability framework that will provide reliable power to residential and industrial areas in Lagos State.
It was launched on Wednesday at an energy stakeholders’ event organised by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.
Sanwo-Olu said the electricity policy unveiled articulated constitutional, legal, engineering and commercial foundations for creating a viable sub-national electricity system.
This, he said, would cater for the energy needs of the State, while enabling socio-economic growth for Lagos and the nation.
The Governor said the State moved to explore alternative energy supply channels in response to growing demand occasioned by population growth and the emergence of new residential and industrial areas.
He noted that the energy requirement that will keep Lagos economy, has far exceeded the current 1,000 megawatts being supplied from the national grid, necessitating the move to explore alternative sources.
“Given Lagos State’s status as the commercial nerve-centre and economic hub of Nigeria, it is our firm belief that the attainment of universal electricity access in the State would accelerate the same across other parts of the country.
“Increased electricity access is one of the priority mandates of this administration, given its significance in driving sustainable economic development.
“There will be no economic development without sustainable energy. The economy needs the energy to run and our objective as a Government is to deliver sustainable, reliable and affordable electricity to all Lagosians. The electricity policy being unveiled today does not only articulate the problems in the sector, but it is also futuristic in the implementation of its provisions.”
According to him, the State would ramp up procurement of pre-paid meters for distribution to residents as part of the implementation of the electricity policy.
Furthermore, he stressed that the set objectives of the electricity policy would only be realisable if the private partners showed equal commitment as the Government to boost capacity in off-grid generation and distribution networks.
“As a Government, we believe one person cannot do it all. We need ideas and knowledge from each other, and form a real partnership for coordination in the implementation of this framework,” Sanwo-Olu said.