…As Fashola cautions against over-regulation of electricity distribution

Lagos State government is currently working on plans to establish five new Independent Power Plants (IPPs) that will be dedicated to powering some industrial clusters in the state, Governor Babatunde Fashola has disclosed.

This is as the governor has cautioned against the over regulation of the distribution of electricity by the National Electricity Distribution Commission, saying the organisation should allow all distribution companies to flourish.

Fashola, who spoke when he received Sam Amadi, the CEO, Electricity Regulation Commission, along with Oladele Amoda, the newly appointed CEO, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, on separate courtesy visits, at Lagos House, Ikeja, said the electricity regulatory agency should not concern itself with talk on multiplicity of distributors.

The governor explained that the agency should rather preoccupy itself with how to ensure that more companies were engaged in supply, stressing that as time went by, the small and not too strong ones will realign in tune with operational realities.

According to him, more emphasis should be placed on safety regulation and ensuring that the distribution companies complied with various environmental laws, which will ensure that as they did business emphasis is placed on safety regulations.
[b]
Fashola, who, however, commended the management of the National Electricity Distribution Commission for encouraging the principle of embedded generation of power, said this has enabled the creation of the Iju/ Adiyan Power Plant to service the Iju waterworks as well as the 10 megawatts Island Power project which was switched on early this year.

He revealed that in furtherance of this, the state government is working on the possibility of building the Alausa power plant to take care of the power needs at the state secretariat and return the quantum of power being utilized currently to other residents of the Alausa area.

He added that the state government was also working out an arrangement that will allow five clusters including the Ilupeju, Matori and Ikorodu as well as the Shomolu area which is very prominent for its concentration of printers to get power arrangement that will take them off the public power supply and get them a dedicated power supply.

Fashola, who said he was not worried about the quantum of power that was generated by the country, explained that “what should be uppermost is the regularity of the power that is generated for the peoples’ usage,” adding that in the Central Business District, it would make a wide world of difference if the people can enjoy electricity from 7am to 7pm because the economy will improve considerably.

He said part of the plans of the government is to expand the capacity of the Island Power Project from 10 megawatts to 114 megawatts, adding that the only constraint for now is gas supply.
[/b]
Fashola who acknowledged the role of the Federal Government in waiving the tariffs on imported components for manufacturing of transformers in Nigeria also urged the CEO of the Eko distribution Company to recommend that customers of the organization in terms of electricity distribution should now patronize the EL SEWEDY transformer manufacturing company in Badagry.

He explained that the foresight of the Lagos State Government was responsible for establishing the transformer manufacturing company because the organization realized that with the coming on of many Independent Power Plants, there will still exist a need for transformers for distributing the generated power.

Speaking earlier, Sam Amadi, CEO, Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission, expressed delight that Lagos is investing in its power generation capacity. He said in a matter of weeks, the distribution license for the State power plant will be ready for collection, stating that the agency is ready to do all it has to do to ensure that the state takes advantage of its investment in energy.

He added part of the measures introduced by the agency is to allow states to keep the power generated from the power plants based in their states based on their capacity to consume; adding that all that is required is to sign the connection agreement with the Eko Distribution Company.

djustice:

Can they really be called Independent Power Plants if they're been established by the state? Or is this just another wish list on the part of the governor, looking to attract "PRIVATE INVESTORS" into Lagos State?

If it's the former, please call them State Power Plants (SPPs) and stop trying to mislead the world with useless propaganda!

By the way, I do welcome the possibility of adding more megawatts to the National grid, although I tend to agree with a former PDP gubernatorial aspirant, who said that the way forward for Lagos is for the state to invest in completely NEW distribution networks, all underground, avoiding PHCN's creaking infrastructure, on an LGA by LGA basis, and then interlink them, so that the IPPs can have a guaranteed market for the power they generate (100% evacuation). Private IPPs would rush into Lagos, especially if ALL customers were to have pre-paid meters on that grid.

Propaganda does not run a state, as we've seen over the last worsening and worsening 12 years. Action does.

Ijogz K:

Lets see it work out 1st

djustice:

Can they really be called Independent Power Plants if they're been established by the state? Or is this just another wish list on the part of the governor, looking to attract "PRIVATE INVESTORS" into Lagos State?

If it's the former, please call them State Power Plants (SPPs) and stop trying to mislead the world with useless propaganda!

By the way, I do welcome the possibility of adding more megawatts to the National grid, although I tend to agree with a former PDP gubernatorial aspirant, who said that the way forward for Lagos is for the state to invest in completely NEW distribution networks, all underground, avoiding PHCN's creaking infrastructure, on an LGA by LGA basis, and then interlink them, so that the IPPs can have a guaranteed market for the power they generate (100% evacuation). Private IPPs would rush into Lagos, especially if ALL customers were to have pre-paid meters on that grid.

Propaganda does not run a state, as we've seen over the last worsening and worsening 12 years. Action does.

emmatok:


And forget about the[b] National Grid[/b] is all politics.

Every state should be allowed to Generate and distribute her electricity energy.

Ladilgs:

As I understand it Rivers State already generates enough mega watts from the state turbines to give the state 24 hours light. If this is true, what is fantastic about what Lagos plans? Should they not be trying to match the Rivers example?

eaxes:

a centralised monopoly of anything never works cos it breeds corruption,inefficiency and price inflation.
There should be competition in providing electricity to all Nigerians. That means states should be allowed to come up with ways of meeting their electricity needs and the excess power can even be sold to other states.
Also there should even be more emphasis on cheap renewable energy for house holds.
We got the energy coming from the sun for Christ's sakes and we aren't using it just like the way we have been flaring gas for donkey years .
When will nigerians wake up.
we need deregulation and competition in power now!!

Ladilgs:

As I understand it Rivers State already generates enough mega watts from the state turbines to give the state 24 hours light. If this is true, what is fantastic about what Lagos plans? Should they not be trying to match the Rivers example?

Fashola, who said he was not worried about the quantum of power that was generated by the country, explained that “what should be uppermost is the regularity of the power that is generated for the peoples’ usage,” adding that in the Central Business District, it would make a wide world of difference if the people can enjoy electricity from 7am to 7pm because the economy will improve considerably.

What a "considerable improvement" in the citizen's life, if they have electricity at their work-place from 7am to 7pm, only to sleep in darkness or under the poisonous fumes of i-better-pass-my landlord Generators, from 7pm t0 7am!

lastpage:

What a "considerable improvement" in the citizen's life, if they have electricity at their work-place from 7am to 7pm, only to sleep in darkness or under the poisonous fumes of i-better-pass-my landlord Generators, from 7pm t0 7am!

Well, the "Business Economy" will improve after-all, they pay more tax and benefit the rich much more!

As far as LASG are concerned, the teeming, poor masses of Bariga, Mushin, Ajegunle, Ebute-Metta, Igando, Oshodi, Iyana-Ipaja, e.t.c can rot in darkness!
This government is about festering the interest of the rich, the poor masses have voted and needs to get dumped ASAP!

So much for blood-sucking Capitalist leaders without a shred of humanity in their veins!

Anyway, any impovement, is an improvement, in this "country of the blind" where the "one-eyed" goes to Press and makes noise about the acute sharpness of his Vision!

Lastpage

Eko Ile:

Why bother is with if it's true? Shouldnt you at least first get your facts right before typing and posting what you yourself just highlighted your lack of knowledge about?

Lagos state is the only government in Nigeria that can guarrantee uninterupted power to any single entity in Nigeria, rivers can not, even your federal government can nit.

With more money than Lagos state and a population of just 5 million against Lagos states 18 million and counting, Rivers should not only be looking like Dubai with every village shining under bright light, the should be doing 4 times better than Lagos state, but unfortunately, it's not, lagos state with it's many huge problems, responsibilities and federal neglect, it's still the most productive and best administered state in Nigeria.

It's called competent and efficient governing by leaders with great ideas and visions.

It's a plus and pride for us all to see each state explore their potentials  and apex well, unfortunately, money or no money, some states are not going anywhere or just not moving fast enough in the right direction. Some leaders have no ideas, the lack vision, not worldly educated and lack general personal sophistication. Look at states like bayelsa, delta, imo and akwa with a lot of money and 1-5 million people and their inability to take advantage of the money at their disposal and low demand and responsibilities.

chy101:

Lagos this lagos that. How many of these project has been completed. From Lekki free zone (still on paper) and now IPP. Will these rascal Yorubas stop this madness. Fashola has stolen more money than any governor and head of state.

lastpage:

What a "considerable improvement" in the citizen's life, if they have electricity at their work-place from 7am to 7pm, only to sleep in darkness or under the poisonous fumes of i-better-pass-my landlord Generators, from 7pm t0 7am!

Well, the "Business Economy" will improve after-all, they pay more tax and benefit the rich much more!

As far as LASG are concerned, the teeming, poor masses of Bariga, Mushin, Ajegunle, Ebute-Metta, Igando, Oshodi, Iyana-Ipaja, e.t.c can rot in darkness!
This government is about festering the interest of the rich, the poor masses have voted and needs to get dumped ASAP!

So much for blood-sucking Capitalist leaders without a shred of humanity in their veins!

Anyway, any impovement, is an improvement, in this "country of the blind" where the "one-eyed" goes to Press and makes noise about the acute sharpness of his Vision!

Lastpage

Itumoko:

Im new on this forum though i ve bin followin it for a long time and i must confess 2 tins; its very informative n educational AND i decided to join because of Eko-Ile's BS n LASG propaganda.

One can hardly call LASG 10megawatt nonsense a power plant!!, its just a big generator. Im interested in knowin ow they intend to increase it to 114MW??

A lot has been said about Lagos without pointing out the obvious; its by far d smallest state in d country, it taxes the hell out of its citizens( without commensurate value for tax), it generates d highest revenue in d country AND all d pple get is terrible infrastructure, death/flood with just 1hr rain, filth, poor governance(fr state 2 LG) and d list goes on.

IMO, its mediocrity, bias or lack of info dat wud make 1 give LASG a passmark. They av failed in more ways than 1!!!