The Federal Government and Lagos State have joined forces to provide stable and reliable electricity across the Lagos corridor through the 24/7 Energy Zones pilot. This initiative, approved by President Bola Tinubu, aims to address persistent electricity supply challenges affecting households, businesses, and industries in the state. A high-level technical session between Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the Lagos House, Marina, led to the agreement.
The Lagos corridor is the first of three areas listed under the pilot scheme, which also includes the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Enugu-Port Harcourt corridors. This framework will extend more reliable electricity supply to major commercial and industrial centres nationwide. According to Tegbe, the Federal Ministry of Power has engaged with electricity distribution companies operating along the Lagos corridor and secured their commitment to offtake more electricity and provide a steady and reliable supply to customers.
Tegbe expressed the ministry's readiness to collaborate with the Lagos State Government across four ministerial priority areas: grid stabilisation, market liquidity, grid expansion, and governance and regulatory harmonisation. The minister stated that the collaboration would focus on practical measures to address technical, commercial, and regulatory challenges constraining electricity supply. This initiative seeks to create a bankable, collaborative, and competitive electricity market in Lagos.
Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the federal delegation for their seriousness in tackling power sector challenges. He praised Tegbe for demonstrating the willingness and capacity to address lingering problems in the sector since assuming office as Minister of Power. Sanwo-Olu stressed that Lagos State is committed to the collaboration, emphasising the need for both levels of government to develop pragmatic solutions that make the electricity market work for Nigerians.
The governor highlighted the objective of creating a bankable, collaborative, and competitive electricity market in Lagos. To translate the agreement into concrete action, Tegbe announced the constitution of a joint technical committee to resolve outstanding issues and recommend the next steps required to implement the 24/7 energy zones initiative in Lagos. This committee will report to a steering committee headed by Sanwo-Olu and co-chaired by Tegbe.
The joint technical committee will play a crucial role in driving the implementation of the 24/7 energy zones initiative. By addressing outstanding issues and recommending next steps, the committee will help ensure a smooth rollout of the initiative. The steering committee, comprising key stakeholders, will provide oversight and guidance to the joint technical committee.
The partnership between the Federal Government and Lagos State aims to improve electricity supply in the state, which is home to a large population and a significant number of businesses and industries. The success of the 24/7 Energy Zones pilot could serve as a model for other parts of the country, helping to address the persistent challenges facing Nigeria's power sector.
Key points
- The Federal Government and Lagos State have partnered to deliver stable and reliable electricity in Lagos under the 24/7 Energy Zones pilot.
- The initiative aims to address persistent electricity supply challenges affecting households, businesses, and industries in the state.
- A joint technical committee has been established to resolve outstanding issues and recommend next steps for implementing the 24/7 energy zones initiative in Lagos.
