The Lagos State Government has launched an ambitious roadmap to eliminate persistent blackouts and establish a 24-hour electricity market powered by private-sector investment, smart metering, and independent power generation.
Read more: Lagos State Launches Bold Initiative to Achieve 24/7 Electricity and Eliminate BlackoutsCommissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, announced the initiative during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, outlining the ministry’s achievements and strategic vision under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
Ogunleye highlighted that sweeping reforms are underway following the enactment of the Lagos State Electricity Law 2024—a landmark move positioning Lagos as Africa’s leading subnational electricity market. The administration’s long-term targets include achieving 95–100% grid availability, full metering coverage, and reducing energy losses to single digits by 2030.
The comprehensive plan is anchored on robust regulation, investor-friendly policies, independent power generation, and universal metering. The Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) has started licensing operators, enforcing standards, and strengthening consumer protections in the state’s evolving power market.
So far, 14 licences and permits have been issued to compliant operators, with a state-wide metering initiative set to begin in July 2026. Lagos is also developing “Electric Eye of Lagos,” an AI-powered monitoring system that will provide real-time oversight of electricity trading and delivery across the state.
The state is finalising market rules, grid interface guidelines, and consumer supply codes to create a competitive and attractive electricity ecosystem. Currently, 12 Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are under regulation, with seven fully operational on a commercial scale.
To enhance power reliability and spur industrial growth, significant infrastructure projects are underway. These include the 37.7-kilometre Badagry electricity corridor, featuring three high-voltage towers over the Gbaji Lagoon and rehabilitated 33kV lines connecting Gbaji, Seme, Owode, and Apa. Plans are also in place for a major Lekki-Epe Integrated Energy Corridor, incorporating a 132kV bulk transmission line from Ajah to Alaro City alongside a new gas pipeline.
The government has expanded public lighting with 42,000 smart solar streetlights installed on major roads and highways. An additional 22,000 conventional streetlights have been replaced with solar-powered systems along key corridors, bringing the total operational solar streetlights to nearly 40,000.
Power interventions in public institutions include Gbagada General Hospital, which now receives up to 22 hours of uninterrupted electricity daily after new transformer installations. Renewable energy upgrades have also been completed in 52 secondary schools and 11 primary healthcare centres via lithium-ion battery projects.
In the oil and gas sector, Lagos is advancing clean transportation by rolling out compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicle infrastructure. To date, 244 vehicles have been converted to CNG, with 17 CNG stations scheduled for operation by the end of 2026. Over 80,000 households now benefit from cleaner cooking energy, thanks to the state’s LPG expansion program.
The upcoming Oshodi Energy Hub will serve as a multipurpose facility, offering LPG, petrol, diesel, CNG, EV charging, and vehicle conversion services.
On mineral resources, the ministry has intensified enforcement against illegal dredging, sand overloading, and unauthorised land reclamation, while ramping up environmental monitoring. Approved mining sites at Ilamija, Kajola, Orimedu, and Akodo will support the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project.
Commissioner Ogunleye reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable energy future for Lagos through strong regulation, private sector involvement, and strategic infrastructure investments.
