The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, says 24-hour power supply will boost business and increase the state’s Gross Domestic Product and that his government is ready to achieve the target.
The governor also urged individuals, private homes and corporate organisations to take up any street of their choice and light them up with connections to their meters and generators, saying the government would give concessions to them in the payment of their annual Land Use Charges.
The governor spoke on Thursday at the Lagos House, Ikeja, while inaugurating the Power Committee, which is to transform the government’s dream into reality, saying the power supply challenge must be overcome in order to achieve sustainable economic growth.
“Lagos State accounts for over 60 per cent of the industrial and commercial activities in Nigeria. The energy requirement of the state is estimated at about 5,000 megawatts of which only about 1,000 megawatts is currently being supplied; hence the need to inaugurate a committee that will advise on how to ensure that the power need of the people is met,” Ambode said.
He explained that the committee consisted of representatives from the government and industry experts from the private sector, and urged them to provide a sustainable guide on the developmentof a roadmap for reliable power supply in the state.
Members of the committee are the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule; Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Wale Oluwo; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem; and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde.
Other members of the committee are the representatives of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, and Transmission Company of Nigeria, Gaslink Nigeria Limited, Falcon Corporation Limited and Egbin Power Plc.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Wale Oluwo, said it was the wish of the government that residents enjoyed regular power supply in their homes.
