Lagos Government Promises to Overcome Electricity Blackout

 

The Lagos State Electricity Bill 2024, which is currently being considered by the Lagos State House of Assembly, aims to eradicate blackouts in the state. Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunlewe, made this announcement at a public hearing on the bill held at the assembly complex on Wednesday.

The bill, titled "A Law to Repeal the Lagos State Power Sector Reform Law 2018 and Provide for the Creation and Administration of the Lagos Electricity Market and Related Matters," seeks to address and resolve the long-standing electricity issues in Lagos. Ogunlewe highlighted that the bill, once passed, will enable the Lagos State government to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity directly to end users.

This development follows a constitutional amendment signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari on March 17, 2023, which permits states to manage electricity generation, transmission, and distribution within their regions. Ogunlewe expressed confidence that, within two years of the bill’s passage, all electricity users in Lagos will have access to reliable and quality power supply.

“The passage of this bill marks the beginning of a significant revolution that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has promised the people of Lagos,” Ogunlewe stated. He emphasized that the state grid would operate efficiently, mitigating challenges associated with reliance on a single power source.

Furthermore, the bill addresses the entry of other operators into the electricity market and ensures environmental friendliness. Ogunlewe also mentioned that current issues hindering operators' business activities have been resolved within the bill, paving the way for a more robust and effective electricity market in Lagos.