FG, Lagos to deliver 24/7 power through energy zones
The Federal Government and the Lagos State Government have committed to collaborating in order to ensure the provision of continuous and dependable electrical power to Lagos through the implementation of the proposed 24/7 Energy Zones pilot initiative.
The Ministry of Power announced this commitment in a statement released on Monday, following a strategic technical discussion between the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, held at the Lagos House, Marina.
According to the ministry, the 24/7 Energy Zones pilot, which has received approval from President Bola Tinubu, is scheduled to begin operations in Lagos and subsequently expand to encompass the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Enugu-Port Harcourt corridors. The initiative aims to establish a comprehensive framework for enhancing and scaling dependable electricity supply across significant commercial and industrial hubs throughout the nation.
As stated in the announcement, Tegbe indicated that the Ministry of Power had engaged with electricity distribution companies and obtained their formal commitments to increase power procurement and furnish consistent and reliable electrical service to consumers throughout the Lagos corridor.
"The Ministry has engaged with and secured commitments from the distribution companies to increase power procurement and deliver consistent and reliable electricity to consumers throughout the Lagos corridor.
Tegbe further communicated the ministry's commitment to partnering with the Lagos State Government in four designated priority domains that have been sanctioned by the President, specifically including grid stabilisation, market liquidity, grid expansion, and governance and regulatory harmonisation.
The statement further noted that Sanwo-Olu commended the Federal Government delegation for demonstrating dedication to addressing obstacles within the electricity sector. The governor remarked that since assuming his position as minister, "Tegbe has demonstrated both the determination and competence necessary to address persistent challenges within the sector".
Sanwo-Olu declared that Lagos is also committed to finding practical solutions to the challenges affecting the electricity market, stressing the need for a collaborative approach.
“We need to work out pragmatic solutions to make the sector work for Nigerians, and Lagosians in particular, creating a bankable, collaborative and competitive electricity market in Lagos,” the governor was quoted as saying.
The ministry said the meeting agreed on measures to move the energy zones initiative from commitment to implementation, including the establishment of a joint technical committee.
The committee has been designated to manage unresolved technical and operational challenges and propose subsequent actions regarding the initiative's rollout.
The committee shall submit its findings to a steering committee chaired by Sanwo-Olu and co-chaired by Tegbe.
Membership of the steering committee includes the Special Adviser to the President on Power, Dr Lanre Babalola; the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, Alh Mahmuda Mamman; and the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy, Biodun Ogunleye.
The gathering was also attended by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat; and the managing directors of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Nigerian Independent System Operator and Rural Electrification Agency, in addition to senior officials from the Federal Ministry of Power and the Lagos State Government.
In the preceding week, the Federal Government announced the commencement of consultations with electricity distribution companies to establish energy zones intended to provide continuous 24-hour electricity access to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers in principal demand regions throughout the nation.
Tegbe conducted a private meeting with the leadership of designated distribution companies to deliberate on the proposed initiative, which focuses on the Lagos region, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Enugu-Port Harcourt corridors.
The meeting particulars were made public through a statement released on Wednesday by the minister's communications officer, Adeola Adelabu.
The statement conveyed the following: "In support of the Federal Government's objective to ensure dependable electricity supply to Nigerians, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has conducted a confidential strategic meeting with the leadership of select electricity distribution companies regarding the proposed Energy Zones, intended to furnish consistent, 24-hour electrical supply to residential, commercial, and industrial facilities in the nation's most significant demand zones, specifically the Lagos region, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Enugu-Port-Harcourt."
The initiative was designed to address electricity distribution constraints and ensure that power generated and transmitted to the national grid reaches consumers more reliably, particularly in areas with high commercial and industrial demand.
