The Lagos State Government, Ikeja Electric and Sahara Power Group have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to increase the supply of electricity to all communities in the state.
The signing of the MoA signalled the commencement of the Lagos’ Light up Project, which entails targeted investments in the feeder, distribution transformer upgrades and metering of customers.
Speaking during the signing of the agreement in his office in Alausa, Ikeja, the Lagos State Commissioner in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Olalere Odusote, an engineer, hinted that once the pilot project in Alimosho is successfully executed, the intention of the government was to replicate the scheme in the entire metropolis until the state is covered with uninterrupted power supply as much as possible.
To show the seriousness attached to the project, the commissioner disclosed that the state government led by Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has gone ahead to purchase 20,000 metres to be installed in Alimosho immediately.
He said: Today, we have a delivery of about, depending on the area you are living, 8 to 12 hours of steady power supply; we want to increase that, as much as possible to, at least, 22 hours.
“We are starting from Alimosho in Lagos; we have identified a number of feeders that connect to 20,000 houses.”
Fielding questions on whether the initiative will eventually translate to an upward review of electricity’s tariff in the targeted communities, Odusote explained that this would not happen until electricity’s supply is increased.
“When power supply improves, your consumption increases and definitely your tariff will increase. It now depends on you to regulate your consumption. It will be a prepaid meter; load it and manage your use,” he said.
Speaking, the Managing Director of Ikeja Electric, Mrs Folake Soetan, said the management of the company was excited to partner with the Lagos State Government to ensure that it continues to provide power to the residents.
She said: “As the commissioner rightly said, we have been working and talking on how to ensure we improve power supply to the residents. Today marks the beginning of that agreement.
“The pilot is going to commence immediately after the agreement, and as the commissioner said, we will ensure this is replicated across Lagos State. We are excited about the opportunity to ensure that power is made available to all.”
Managing Director, Sahara Power Group, Mr Anthony Youdeowei, said it was a privilege for his company to be part of the initiative.
He said: “We are going to involve the communities in making sure that this comes to fruition. We are transparent in our dealings with the Lagos State Government and Ikeja Electricity, and most importantly with the communities. This is an initiative which is new and will be replicated because I know it is going to be successful.”
