The Federal Government and Lagos State Government have announced a coordinated plan to raise electricity supply in Lagos to approximately 3,500 megawatts (MW), targeting persistent blackouts and supporting the state's economic growth. The announcement came at the Lagos State High-Level Strategic Power Town Hall Meeting held at Lagos House, Marina, where officials, regulators, and industry operators agreed that reliable electricity is essential for sustaining Lagos' industrial and economic development.
Lagos Needs Over 6,000MW for Full Demand
Representing the Minister of Power, the ministry's Director of Distribution Services, Baba Mustapha, stated that Lagos requires more than 6,000MW to fully meet its electricity demand. He noted that the state currently receives only a fraction of that requirement from the national grid, making additional investments across the electricity value chain critical.
Mustapha stressed that increasing power generation alone would not solve the crisis without simultaneous investments in gas supply, transmission, distribution infrastructure, and metering. He disclosed that Lagos had already secured 400MW from private power producers and urged the state to explore gas-fired, embedded, and renewable energy sources to expand available electricity.
Coordination Required to Achieve 3,500MW Target
According to Mustapha, the 3,500MW target would require coordinated action across generation, transmission, and distribution to ensure that additional power actually reaches consumers. He emphasized that generation capacity alone would be insufficient without the supporting infrastructure to deliver electricity to homes and businesses.
The plan also involves addressing the "culture of blackout" in Lagos, as described by Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Abiodun Ogunleye. He said the state government was determined to end this culture and improve service delivery.
Sanwo-Olu Calls for Stronger Coordination and Smart Metering
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu called for stronger coordination among stakeholders, alongside improvements in smart metering, data management, regulatory enforcement, and revenue assurance. He said these measures would help rebuild consumer confidence, improve electricity service delivery, and attract sustained private investment into the sector.
Sanwo-Olu also proposed that stakeholders reconvene within five to six months to assess progress and review the implementation of commitments reached at the meeting. This follow-up is intended to ensure accountability and track the delivery of the 3,500MW target.
Immediate Goal: Add 2GW to Existing Supply
Ogunleye explained that Lagos currently receives less than one gigawatt (GW) of electricity from the national grid, despite the Transmission Company of Nigeria having about 3.5GW of wheeling capacity. He said the immediate objective is to add about 2GW to existing supply, bringing available electricity closer to 3.5GW.
The additional capacity, he noted, would enable more feeders to supply homes, businesses, and industries across Lagos. This expansion is part of a broader push to transform Lagos' electricity market, reduce dependence on inadequate grid supply, and create a more reliable power system capable of supporting businesses and households around the clock.
For a state that remains Nigeria's commercial powerhouse, stakeholders believe achieving the 3,500MW target could mark a major turning point in the battle against persistent power shortages. The plan also aligns with the Federal Government's broader reforms, including the gradual elimination of electricity subsidy and the implementation of cost-reflective tariffs, with targeted support for low-income households as announced by Special Adviser to the President on Power Infrastructure, Sadiq Wanka.
