The Federal Government and the Lagos State Government have agreed to jointly deliver stable and reliable electricity across the Lagos corridor under the 24/7 Energy Zones pilot approved by President Bola Tinubu.
Gatekeepers News reports that the agreement was reached on Monday during a high-level technical session between the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at Lagos House, Marina.
The meeting focused on finding solutions to persistent electricity supply challenges affecting households, businesses and industries across the state.
Lagos is the first of three corridors selected for the pilot initiative. The programme will also cover the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Enugu-Port Harcourt corridors, with the aim of developing a framework for more reliable electricity supply to major commercial and industrial centres across the country.
Tegbe said the Federal Ministry of Power had engaged electricity distribution companies operating along the Lagos corridor and secured their commitment to increase electricity offtake and provide steady and reliable supply to customers.
He said the ministry was also ready to collaborate with the Lagos State Government across four priority areas approved by the President: grid stabilisation, market liquidity, grid expansion, and governance and regulatory harmonisation.
According to the minister, the partnership would focus on practical measures to tackle the technical, commercial and regulatory challenges that have continued to constrain electricity supply.
Sanwo-Olu commended the federal delegation for what he described as its seriousness in addressing challenges in the power sector.
The governor said Tegbe had demonstrated a willingness and capacity to tackle longstanding problems in the sector since assuming office as Minister of Power.
He said Lagos State was committed to the partnership, stressing the need for both levels of government to develop pragmatic solutions that would make the electricity market work for Nigerians, particularly residents and businesses in Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu said the goal was to create a bankable, collaborative and competitive electricity market in Lagos.
As part of efforts to translate the agreement into concrete action, Tegbe announced the establishment of a joint technical committee to resolve outstanding issues and recommend the next steps for implementing the 24/7 Energy Zones initiative in Lagos.
He added that the committee would report to a steering committee headed by Sanwo-Olu and co-chaired by Tegbe.
