The Federal Government and Lagos State Government have established joint committees to coordinate efforts towards reliable, 24-hour electricity supply in Lagos. The initiative places the Lagos corridor first in a proposed programme targeting major economic centres, but it does not mean uninterrupted power has already been achieved.
The agreement followed a Ministerial Implementation Retreat on the Clean Lagos Electricity Market at Lagos House, Marina, on Monday, 5 October. Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu joined senior officials to examine the technical, financial and regulatory obstacles affecting electricity delivery.
A joint technical committee will identify outstanding problems and recommend implementation measures. Participating institutions include the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Rural Electrification Agency, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, alongside system operators and government representatives. Their involvement is intended to connect decisions across the electricity supply chain.
A separate steering committee, chaired by Sanwo-Olu with Tegbe as co-chairman, will supervise implementation. Its membership includes the presidential adviser on power, the Federal Ministry of Power’s permanent secretary and Lagos State Commissioner for Energy Biodun Ogunleye. This structure assigns political oversight alongside the technical work.
Tegbe said the Lagos axis accounts for between 40 and 50 per cent of Nigeria’s electricity demand, explaining its selection as the starting point. That figure is the minister’s estimate, rather than a measurement independently verified for this article. The proposed programme would subsequently extend to the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano and Enugu–Port Harcourt corridors.
“We came with pragmatic solutions,” Tegbe said, indicating that some measures could begin immediately. He also reported commitments from distribution companies to take more electricity and improve delivery to customers. The announcement did not specify how much additional power they would receive or identify the neighbourhoods expected to benefit first.
The federal priorities include stabilising and expanding the grid, improving financial flows within the electricity market and aligning governance and regulation. These issues affect whether available electricity reaches consumers: generation alone cannot guarantee steady supply where transmission, distribution equipment or payment arrangements remain inadequate.
For households and small businesses, dependable power could reduce the need to buy generator fuel, interrupt work or manage food spoilage during outages. A tailor could run equipment for longer, while a food seller could keep refrigeration operating more consistently. These are potential benefits, not outcomes already demonstrated by the newly announced committees.
The initiative builds on earlier reforms allowing Lagos to regulate its own electricity market. In December 2024, the national regulator issued orders transferring oversight of the state’s electricity market to the Lagos regulator. The new committees reflect the continuing need for federal and state coordination where local electricity arrangements interact with national infrastructure.
As of the material reviewed on 6 October, no firm date for achieving uninterrupted supply, detailed project budget or comprehensive rollout schedule had been announced. Residents will need measurable evidence longer supply hours, fewer interruptions and clear implementation updates to assess progress. The committees provide an implementation structure; delivering reliable electricity remains the task ahead.
