Assembly, stakeholders meet as Lagos plans own electricity market

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, yesterday, said the Electricity Bill currently before the house is the confirmation of the state government’s zeal to ensure regular and uninterrupted power supply to residents. The assembly also held a stakeholders’ meeting on the bill which seeks to allow the state government to licence, […]

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, yesterday, said the Electricity Bill currently before the house is the confirmation of the state government’s zeal to ensure regular and uninterrupted power supply to residents.

The assembly also held a stakeholders’ meeting on the bill which seeks to allow the state government to licence, generate, transmit, and distribute electricity to unserved and underserved areas of the state.

The proposed law, according to the speaker, who was represented by Deputy Speaker Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, “seeks to take care of everything in the electricity sector majorly by contributing to the sustainable development of the state.”

The speaker added that the bill establishes a mechanism for electricity planning that promotes off-grid solutions for households and micro, small and medium scale enterprises.

“This bill is most timely because electrification is one of the most important aspects of a viable economy and improvement of the wellbeing of the people.

“Being a responsible Government, the Lagos State government has decided to create an agency, market and fund with the responsibility of ensuring adequate access to electricity with professional standards and modern technology.

“The bill is pursuant to our resolve to improve the electricity situation in the State,” he said, adding that Lagos is proactive by taking advantage of the movement of electricity to the concurrent list.

Speaking further on the bill, the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy, Hon. Sabur Oluwa, said the bill establishes a commercial and technical regulatory framework for Lagos Electricity.

“The bill outlines the creation of the Lagos State Electrification Agency to manage public electricity works and infrastructure as well as the Lagos State Electrification Fund,” he said.

In his comment, the Chairman, South West of the Chartered Institute of Power Engineering, Vincent Umoh, urged the assembly to ensure the bill mandated the state government to appoint technocrats with 15 years’ experience to head the proposed agency.

Umoh said Lagos State government needs about 1,000 megawatts for it to ensure stable electricity supply to residents.