The federal government and Lagos State government have concluded plans to establish joint committees aimed at improving electricity supply and working towards 24-hour power availability in the state. This decision was made at the Ministerial Implementation Retreat on the Clean Lagos Electricity Market, held at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Marina. The retreat brought together senior officials from the Federal Government and Lagos State to discuss challenges and solutions for electricity supply.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, stated that Lagos had been selected as a pilot for an approach that would later be extended to other major energy corridors across the country. The federal government is focusing on three major energy zones: the Lagos axis, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor, and the Enugu-Port Harcourt axis. The Lagos axis alone accounts for between 40 and 50 per cent of Nigeria's electricity demand, making it a strategic starting point for efforts to improve supply.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, outlined that the retreat examined issues related to market structure, regulation, technical requirements, and operations. Discussions covered immediate, medium-term, and long-term measures to address electricity supply challenges. Tegbe announced that a Joint Technical Working Committee would be constituted and co-chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and the Managing Director of the Lagos State Independent System Operator.
The Joint Technical Working Committee will include representatives of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Rural Electrification Agency, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Federal Ministry of Power, Lagos State Independent System Operator, and Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, among other relevant institutions. This committee aims to deliver improved electricity supply to consumers in the identified energy corridors, beginning with Lagos.
A Steering Committee will be created to supervise the implementation of the agreed measures, with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as chairman and the Minister of Power as co-chairman. Other members will include the Special Adviser on Power, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, and the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy, Biodun Ogunleye.
During the retreat, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the engagement as productive, noting that it brought together senior officials for nearly four hours of discussions. Sanwo-Olu stated that the discussions were "very frank" and focused on the major challenges affecting electricity supply, as well as possible solutions. Participants identified several "low-hanging fruits" that could be implemented relatively quickly.
The committees will work towards delivering improved electricity supply to consumers in the identified energy corridors, beginning with Lagos before extending the approach to Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Enugu-Port Harcourt. The Minister of Power expressed optimism that Nigerians would start to see some differences in the Lagos axis as far as power supply is actually manifested.
Key points
- The federal government and Lagos State government are collaborating to establish joint committees to improve electricity supply.
- Lagos has been selected as a pilot for an approach to improve electricity supply that will later be extended to other major energy corridors.
- A Joint Technical Working Committee and a Steering Committee have been established to oversee the implementation of the agreed measures.
