Lagos State's Biodun Ogunleye Addresses Power Crisis

Lagos State depends on an estimated 4.5 million fossil-fuel generator sets as the national grid meets only about 20% of the state's electricity demand, as disclosed by Biodun Ogunleye, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources. This reliance on generators increases energy costs for businesses and residents while contributing to noise and environmental pollution.

A 2024 study by Sustainable Energy for All and the Lagos State Government estimated annual carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from these generators at around 39 million tonnes. Ogunleye described unreliable electricity as “the invisible constraint” on urban productivity and advocated for a shift from a “generator-powered district” to a serviced district with reliable electricity infrastructure.

He mentioned two projects aimed at improving power supply: the Victoria Island Power project, which will provide 40MW of capacity, and the rehabilitation of the Akute independent power plant, which has a contracted capacity of 26MW, scheduled for 2026. Ogunleye emphasized that urban regeneration requires reliable essential services.