By Merit Ibe
The Lagos State government has said the state’s electricity law will eliminate energy poverty and cultural blackout within the city.
Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, made the remark at the Power Sector seminar, themed: Lagos State Electricity law roundtable organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and industry (LCCI), where he noted that the law is aimed at accelerating renewable energy adoption, expanding energy access and fostering innovation in the state’s power sector.
Ogunleye highlighted the law’s decentralization of the electricity market and its potential to attract investments, foster industrial growth, and achieve environmental sustainability.
“This law will usher Lagos into a reliable and uninterrupted electricity,” emphasising its role in enabling public-private partnerships and creating an investor-friendly environment.
The Lagos State Electricity Law reflects the government’s commitment to improving the quality of life for residents while strengthening the state’s position as a hub for innovation and investment. It promises a brighter future with reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for all Lagosians.
The commissioner said: “The law at the end of the day will give every one of us in Lagos access to electricity and the assets will be such that we have what we need to be the best that we can be at our levels. “It’s going to be such a transformation to see 24/ 7 supply at prices that people can look forward.
It will eliminate energy poverty and cultural blackout within the city.”
He noted that some of the challenges of poor energy are systemic, advising stakeholders to key in for a positive change.
‘Some of the hurdles have been with us since 20, 30 years ago. So, in resolving them, the first thing we need to do is to get all the stakeholders to understand the best route to resolving them.”
He urged stakeholders, business owners to collaborate with the state government to achieve this goal.
‘Now, I will be able to get a sign-off with the stakeholders.
Then, all of us can now look at what the real issues are and the real resolutions that will make everybody comfortable.
And with that in place, we are able to ensure that the new market we are creating will be sustainable.”
President of the chamber, Gabriel Idahosa said the event was organised to have the business community get full knowledge of the law and how businesses can invest in the development and management of electricity supply projects both at the generation,distribution and even transmission level of electricity.
“So for us at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce, once this law was passed by the Lagos State last month, we were looking forward to it. It came and we have decided to have this event to get the business community to have full knowledge of the law and how we in the business community can now invest.
“The whole objective is to ensure that Lagos State has affordable and continuous uninterrupted power supply across the city. That is the big thing about this event; how Lagos can become fully covered with uninterrupted power.”
On his part, Chairman, LCCI Power Sector, Martin’s Arogie, who is also partner with KPMG pointed out the importance of good implementation as wrong implementation could destroy a very good plan.
He noted that the state government intends to create an enabling environment for investors and businesses to thrive.
“Well, like one of the participants already said, the plans look very great but implementation can destroy a very good plan.
So it’s about implementation, and that’s what’s key.
You can see clearly that the plans are good, and participants are in a sense, excited by the level of details the commission has gone into today.
“I think the most important thing is that Lagos State is open for business, to engage and collaborate to achieve the mission and the vision, as the Commissioner said, to eliminate blackouts from Lagos..
He noted that the state government does not intend to be an active player, “what it intends to do is create an enabling environment for business to come take advantage of the opportunities in the sector, and help the Government achieve that objective of ensuring that there are no more blackouts in Lagos.
So the key objective is that Lagos State is open for business, come and participate.”