The Federal Government and the Lagos State Government have agreed to jointly drive the implementation of the 24/7 Energy Zones programme, beginning with a pilot scheme designed to provide uninterrupted electricity along the Lagos corridor.
The agreement was reached during a high-level technical meeting held yesterday at Lagos House, Marina, between the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, and senior officials of the ministry, and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The development follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of the 24/7 Energy Zones initiative, which is aimed at creating dedicated electricity corridors with guaranteed and uninterrupted power supply as part of broader efforts to strengthen access to reliable electricity nationwide.
Under the pilot arrangement, Lagos will serve as the starting point before the programme is extended to the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Enugu-Port Harcourt corridors. The expansion is expected to provide a framework for extending the initiative to other major commercial and industrial centres across the country.
Tegbe disclosed that the Ministry of Power had held discussions with electricity distribution companies and obtained commitments from them to increase their power offtake and ensure more consistent and dependable electricity delivery to customers within the Lagos corridor.
He also pledged the ministry’s readiness to partner with the Lagos State Government in advancing the four priority areas endorsed by the President. These areas include grid stabilisation, improving market liquidity, expanding the electricity grid, and harmonising governance and regulatory frameworks.
Governor Sanwo-Olu praised the federal delegation for demonstrating a strong commitment to addressing challenges within the power sector. He noted that since assuming office as Minister of Power, Tegbe had demonstrated both the determination and ability to tackle some of the longstanding difficulties confronting the industry.
He said Lagos is equally committed and stressed the need to work out pragmatic solutions to make the sector work for Nigerians, and Lagosians in particular, creating 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 address outstanding challenges, resolve complex issues and recommend practical steps for implementation.
The committee will be chaired by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), with the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Energy serving as co-chair. Its membership will comprise representatives of 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 technical committee will operate under a steering committee to be chaired by Governor Sanwo-Olu, with the Minister of Power serving as co-chair. The Special Adviser to the President on Power, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power and the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy will also serve on the steering committee.
Those in attendance included the Special Adviser to the President on Power, Dr Lanre Babalola; Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, Alh Mahmuda Mamman; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat; and the state Commissioner for Energy, Mr Biodun Ogunleye.
Also present were the Managing Directors of TCN, NISO and REA, alongside other senior officials from the Federal Ministry of Power and the Lagos State Government.
