The Lagos State Electricity Bill 2024, currently before the state House of Assembly, is expected to end blackouts in the state, according to Mr. Biodun Ogunlewe, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources. Ogunlewe provided this assurance during a one-day public hearing on the bill at the assembly complex on Wednesday.
The bill aims to repeal the Lagos State Power Sector Reform Law 2018 and establish the creation and administration of the Lagos electricity market. This follows a constitutional amendment signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari on March 17, 2023, allowing states to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity within areas covered by the national grid.
The national grid experienced its fourth collapse of the year on Saturday, causing widespread blackouts.
Ogunlewe stated that the bill, if enacted, would empower the state government to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity directly to end-users. He assured that all electricity users in Lagos would have access to reliable electricity within two years of the bill’s enactment.
“We believe that the passage of this bill is the beginning of the revolution that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has promised the people of the state,” Ogunlewe said. “The state grid will operate independently, avoiding challenges from a single source.”
The bill will also open the market to other operators and ensure environmental friendliness. “Issues hindering operators have been resolved in this bill. It will make Lagos a global center of excellence,” he added.
The state government has already ensured that all class A roads and most class B roads are lighted, with about 20,000 street lighting poles currently functional. For rural areas, the government plans interventions via off-grid and macro-grid platforms.
Regarding alternative energy sources, Ogunlewe highlighted that the strategy includes signing off on at least 1,000 megawatts of non-renewable energy capacity. “We will see a power sector with a better energy mix, not relying solely on fossil fuels,” he said.
The bill is now awaiting its third reading, where the committee will consider feedback from stakeholders.
Source: NAN
