FG, Lagos set up joint committee to drive 24/7 power supply

By Adebola Muili

The Federal Government and the Lagos State Government have begun moves to deliver round-the-clock electricity to the state through the 24/7 Energy Zones initiative approved by President Bola Tinubu.

As part of the move, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, announced the constitution of a Joint Technical Committee to address bottlenecks in the electricity sector and recommend practical steps towards achieving reliable power supply along the Lagos corridor.

The development followed a high-level technical meeting between Tegbe and senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Power and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House, Marina.

Tegbe said the Ministry had secured commitments from electricity distribution companies to increase their offtake of available power and ensure steady and reliable supply to customers within the Lagos corridor.

He said the Federal Government was prepared to work with the Lagos State Government in addressing four priority areas approved by the President: grid stabilisation, market liquidity, grid expansion, and governance and regulatory harmonisation.

According to him, the collaboration is expected to tackle the technical and regulatory challenges hindering effective electricity delivery while creating an environment capable of supporting increased investment in the sector.

The minister said the Joint Technical Committee would be chaired by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), with the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Energy as co-chairman.

Members of the committee would be drawn from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC), Lagos Independent System Operator (LAISO), Lagos State Electricity Agency (LSEA) and the Office of the Minister of Power.

The committee, he said, would report to a Steering Committee to be chaired by Sanwo-Olu and co-chaired by the Minister of Power.

The Steering Committee will also comprise the Special Adviser to the President on Power, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power and the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy.

Speaking on the initiative, Sanwo-Olu commended the Federal Government delegation for its commitment to resolving the longstanding challenges in the power sector.

The governor said Tegbe had demonstrated the willingness and capacity to address lingering issues in the sector since assuming office as Minister of Power.

He stressed the need for both governments to develop pragmatic solutions that would make the electricity market work for Nigerians, particularly Lagos residents and businesses.

Sanwo-Olu said the state was committed to creating a bankable, collaborative and competitive electricity market capable of supporting economic activities and improving power supply across Lagos.

The 24/7 Energy Zones pilot, which begins with Lagos, is also expected to cover the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Enugu-Port Harcourt corridors as the Federal Government seeks to improve electricity supply across major commercial and industrial centres.

The meeting was attended by the Special Adviser to the President on Power, Dr Lanre Babalola; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Alhaji Mahmuda Mamman; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat; and Commissioner for Energy, Biodun Ogunleye.

Also present were the Managing Directors of TCN, NISO and REA and other senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Power and the Lagos State Government.