Lagos State targets 3.5GW power supply, seeks private investment

This initiative was discussed at the Lagos State High-Level Strategic Power Town Hall, where officials noted that Lagos currently receives less than 1GW from the national grid, despite the Transmission Company of Nigeria's capacity to transmit about 3.5GW. The proposed Clean Lagos Electricity Market will initially test a 500MW model focused on aggregating demand, direct contracting with suppliers, guaranteed payment, and an open-access network. Rilwan Babalola, Special Adviser to the President on Power, emphasized the need to create a commercially viable electricity market under Nigeria’s emerging decentralized power regime.

Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, stated that Lagos is seeking an additional 2GW immediately, which would improve electricity availability for various users. The state is also exploring embedded generation and restructuring Independent Power Projects. Temitope George, CEO of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, highlighted challenges such as weak generation and transmission, vandalism, electricity theft, and unpaid bills.

Stakeholders agreed that commercial viability and infrastructure expansion are central to Lagos' power strategy, with a focus on measurable action points and baselines for progress assessment. Consumers are not expected to be