Picture a bustling city like Lagos, where the lights of homes, businesses, and industries flicker on and off unpredictably.
Imagine the frustration of small business owners, students, and families as they struggle with frequent power outages, depending on noisy, costly generators to stay afloat.
Electricity, often taken for granted in other parts of the world, remains a daily struggle for millions in Nigeria’s commercial hub. Yet, hope looms on the horizon.
Lagos Electricity Bill To Law
The Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has signed the Lagos Electricity Bill 2024 into law.
The law is a comprehensive plan aimed at addressing challenges in the energy sector and is expected to lay the foundation for economic and industrial growth in Lagos.
The governor signed the bill on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at the Lagos House, Ikeja.
“The bill is a major step by the state government to ensure a 24-hour electricity supply to every corner of the state, following the Federal Government’s approval for states to generate and distribute energy in 2023,” said the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, on X.
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This move is expected to reduce the state’s dependency on the national grid.
Importance Of Lagos Electricity Bill Law
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted the significance of the bill.
He emphasised its role in transforming Lagos into a global city with a dependable and uninterrupted power supply.
This vision aligns with the state’s ambition to enhance its industrial and economic prospects.
In November, the Lagos State Government took proactive steps to address its electricity challenges.
It called on independent power producers and energy solution firms to submit bids for constructing gas-fired power plants.
This initiative aims to reduce the state’s persistent electricity deficit.
Collaboration
To further this goal, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources collaborated with the Office of Public-Private Partnerships.
Together, they launched the Clean Lagos Electricity Market initiative, a project designed to boost Lagos’s energy output and reliability.
Additionally, Commissioner Biodun Ogunleye of the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources and Bukola Odoe, the Special Adviser of the Office of Public-Private Partnerships, jointly announced this initiative.
Their partnership underscores the state’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration in the energy sector.