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Lagos launches electricity policy for affordable, reliable energy for consumers

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State (3rd right) at the Launch of New Electricity Policy in Lagos

*No economic development without sustainable energy, and our objective as a government is to deliver sustainable, reliable and affordable electricity to all residents, says Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

In a move to ensure provision of cleaner, reliable, affordable and uninterrupted power supply to Lagosians,  the Lagos State Government has unveiled the ‘Lagos State Electricity Policy’, geared at providing cleaner, reliable, affordable and uninterrupted power supply to residents.

ConsumerConnect reports Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, who spoke at the unveiling of the power policy, organised by the State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Wednesday, December 8, 2021, in Lagos, said that what the residents really desire is  regular power supply to homes, offices and businesses.

Power plant

The Lagos State Governor stated that the new electricity policy articulated constitutional, legal, engineering and commercial foundations for creating a viable sub-national electricity system that would cater for energy needs of the state.

Sanwo-Olu noted such viable sub-national electricity system would enable socio-economic growth for Lagos and the nation at large.

According to him, the state moved to explore alternative energy supply channels, in response to growing demand, occasioned by population growth and emergence of new residential and industrial areas.

The governor also said: “Energy requirement that will keep Lagos economy on the path of growth, 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 will  accelerate the same across other parts of the country.”

‘Let there be light’

Sanwo-Olu stated: “There will be no economic development without sustainable energy. The economy needs energy to run, and our objective as a government is to deliver sustainable, reliable and affordable electricity to all residents.

“The electricity policy being unveiled today do not only articulate the problems in the sector, it is also futuristic in the implementation of its provisions.”

The state would increase procurement of prepayment electricity meters for distribution to residents, as part of the implementation of the electricity policy, said he.

He further stressed that this approach would promote transparency in the supply chain, while curbing electricity theft and discouraging estimated billing from the suppliers.

The 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 network, Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor added: “As a government, we believe one person cannot do it all. We need ideas and knowledge from each other, and form real partnership for coordination in the implementation of this framework.

“We must continue to ensure profitable partnerships to push investments, be audacious and accountable.”

Earlier in his welcome address, Mr. Olalere Odusote, Honourable Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources in Lagos State, said the government was committed to improving electricity supply in the state.

The Commissioner said the electricity policy would define and describe the short, mid and long term requirements, toward ensuring universal, clean, affordable and interrupted power supply to residents.

According to him, one of the important roles of the policy was that it would help to establish and boost the Lagos Electricity Market (LEM).

The fresh electricity policy, besides clearing out constitutional and legal framework for investors’ assurance, also provides for the establishment of an autonomous regulatory body and independent system operator, said Odusote.

He also noted that the Lagos State Government would hinge its partnership with the industry players, on well-funded and well-managed generation, transmission and distribution for the benefit of electricity consumers.

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