Critical warnings about Nigeria's deteriorating power infrastructure dominated discussions at a major energy conference in Lagos, with stakeholders demanding immediate action to prevent nationwide electricity fragmentation.
Defining Moment for Nigeria's Energy Transition
Industry leaders gathered at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Power Sector Conference on November 21, 2025, emphasizing that constitutional reforms enabling state-level electricity participation require complementary infrastructure upgrades.
Gabriel Idahosa, President of LCCI, described the current period as pivotal for Nigeria's energy future. He stressed that while decentralisation opens doors for localised solutions, it must be supported by harmonised standards and clear regulatory frameworks.
"Our country cannot industrialise without reliable electricity; our businesses cannot scale without energy stability," Idahosa stated emphatically. He confirmed that the private sector stands ready to invest and innovate, but requires predictable, transparent, and efficiently regulated environments.
Lagos Leads Decentralisation Efforts
Biodun Ogunleye, Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, outlined the state's comprehensive approach to building a decentralised electricity ecosystem through three key initiatives:
- The Lagos Electricity Law
- The Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission
- An integrated resource plan
Represented by Chief Technical Officer Ogunade Hamed, Ogunleye identified three critical challenges facing the state's power sector:
- Infrastructure optimisation
- Securing commercial sustainability
- Improving coordination across the value chain
"Lagos grid infrastructure must evolve," Ogunleye declared, noting that existing networks were designed for a smaller population and different economic realities.
Concrete Steps Toward Modernisation
The commissioner highlighted several ongoing initiatives demonstrating Lagos State's commitment to power sector transformation. These include strengthening embedded generation frameworks specifically for industrial clusters and modernising 42,000 streetlights with solar power units.
Industry experts at the conference agreed that without urgent infrastructure improvements, Nigeria risks missing the economic benefits of energy decentralisation. They emphasized that generation, transmission, and distribution systems all require simultaneous upgrades to support state-level electricity markets.
The consensus among policymakers, investors, and power sector operators was clear: Nigeria's energy future depends on bridging infrastructure gaps while maintaining regulatory harmony across all levels of government.
