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The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Friday sought a no objection letter from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for the state government’s Embedded Power Programme.

Mr. Ambode, who led some members of the State Executive Council, lawmakers and other critical stakeholders to a meeting at the NERC’s headquarters in Abuja, said the embedded power project was designed as his administration’s flagship programme for direct intervention in the power value chain towards achieving a 24-hour power for Lagos.

He said the proposed power programme would generate up to 3,000MW of power through accelerated deployment of various power plants in strategic locations across the State by private sector power providers within three to six years.

He noted that Nigerians’ aspiration to create a secured and prosperous nation that is globally competitive will be difficult to achieve without stable power supply.

Mr. Ambode posited that while efforts are ongoing to resolve the power crisis, it had become increasingly clear that the problems in the energy sector could no longer be left to the federal government alone to solve.

“Embedded power was designed as our flagship programme for direct intervention in the power value chain towards achieving a 24-hour power for Lagos. Lagos State has always demonstrated its capacity and willingness to play a leading role in resolving the power sector challenges in the state, subject to the limit of the federal authority allowed regulations.

“Having succeeded in powering government facilities, the next level of intervention for our government is to collaborate with other stakeholders in the power sector to design and implement a roadmap for uninterrupted power supply to homes and businesses in Lagos State.

“The draft of the Lagos State Embedded Power Bill was finalised in May 2017 and submitted to the National Electricity Regulatory Commission for clearance before same can be forwarded to the State House of Assembly.

“The stakeholders meeting holding today is a continuation of the ongoing engagement between NERC and the Lagos State Government on the Lagos State Embedded Power Programme.

“We are convinced that the offer by our government to deploy the state’s balance sheet in support of power generation, transmission, distribution, gas supply, metering, collection and enforcement in Lagos State will significantly relieve the national grid and free more energy for distribution to other parts of Nigeria.

“The proposed power programme will generate up to 3,000MW of power through accelerated deployment of various power plants in strategic locations across the state by private sector power providers within three to six years.”

He said the state government would issue guarantees in support of the Power Purchase Agreements that will be signed between the distribution companies and the private sector embedded power providers to enhance bankability of the projects.

He added that the power generated under the programme will be distributed through the networks of Eko and Ikeja Distribution Companies while the state would support the distribution companies in upgrading their distribution infrastructure for embedded power areas in line with NERC guidelines.

“The State Government will support the distribution companies in installation of smart prepaid meters in the areas where embedded power is deployed. We will institute a cost-reflective tariff regime that is fair to all stakeholders, sustainable and capable of attracting private capital to the sector on a continuous basis.

“Other areas of collaboration include support for revenue collection, legislation and establishment of an agency for enforcement of power theft laws in Lagos.

“Our prayer today is to seek the commission’s no objection letter for the Lagos State Embedded Power Programme, based on cost reflective tariff regime that is fair to all parties and capable of unlocking private sector investments into the power sector on a sustainable basis,” the Governor said.

Responding, the NERC’s Commissioner in charge of Legal License and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye, who stood in for the Commission’s Vice Chairman, promised that the NERC would work with the Lagos State Government to ensure the success of the programme.

“Within the ambit of the law and existing regulations, you have our unflinching support in this project.

“So in response to what you said in your prayers to us, Your Excellency, I reaffirm the support of NERC towards this project. Our commitment is to create a viable electricity industry that works for Nigeria and Nigerians.

“As the laws and regulations permit us, we will work with you on this project to ensure that it does see the light of the day,” Mr. Akpeneye promised.

Mr. Akpeneye however called the governor’s attention to some safety issues that concern the state.

He spoke about the right of way, standards and designs, electricity theft as well as customers’ enumeration.

He noted that a situation where the commission’s record indicates that there are only 1.2million registered electricity customers in Lagos State is not tidy enough when almost all the houses in the state are connected to national grid.

Representatives of both Eko and Ikeja Distribution Companies at the meeting declared their support for the project, saying that it would be detrimental to the progress of Nigeria if they opposed it.

Source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/239278-ambode-seeks-nigerian-govts-permission-3000mw-project-power-lagos.html

Lagos always progressive. Anyway I don't get The Federal Government obsession with strangling states in power sector. The best thing about this policy is its private sector driven. Hope other states that can should follow suit. There are plenty Of ND states like Akwa Ibom supplies and cash to power themselves.

Okay.

If Lagos should establish this it's a big shame on the federal government. Lagos is about to generate more electricity than the FG. This country is done for.

Good development, power has always been a hinder to development in many sectors in Nigeria.

If the country was not a fuckedd up country, while would he need the permission of the F/Govt.

kudos governor... eko oni baje ooo

Lagos.. Get set to be over crowded

3,000mw..Lagos transformers,and high tension wires be like...

sample09:
Lagos.. Get set to be over crowded

How do you mean? >

Everything favors its approval, the Lagos can just drop National grid for the Nationalists.

That's what 'my brothers from before the war' should learn. Electricity in Lagos or Ogun is electricity for Nigerians, it's doesn't ask for tribes. Bad Roads in Aba-Rumukrushi or Apapa-Oshodi will not ask for Muslims or Christians.

OBJ wasn't joking when he said Lagos will become the third largest economy in Africa before he passes on.

sample09:
Lagos.. Get set to be over crowded

Not really like I said the other states will obviously follow trend. Hopefully they get this through.

blitz1:
If Lagos should establish this it's a big shame on the federal government. Lagos is about to generate more electricity than the FG. This country is done for.

Everyone knows the federal government sucks. The fact they couldn't solve issue biggest shame.

Imagine the economic effect this would have have on Lagos' economy. Power has been the bane, the clog in the wheel of Lagos' development. I just wish other states can copy from Ambode who has already set a precedence. The FG handles too much. Its responsibilities and powers should be devolved.

Blue3k:
Not really like I said the other states will obviously follow trend. Hopefully the get this through.

Did the recent Senate amendment have anything to do with this?

updatechange:
How do you mean? >

If Lagos has 24hrs power supply..
People would migrate more into the state.

Blue3k:
Not really like I said the other states will obviously follow trend. Hopefully the get this through.

You mean like Osun State or Kogi state

Ehiscotch:
Did the recent Senate amendment have anything to do with this?

No Idea if it did. As I know Lagos has history of this kind of policy anyway. The Federal Government seems to have plan similar to this with Akwa Ibom already. Akwa Ibom plans to power 5 local government with support of TCN. The simple allow State to take 35 MW to supply itself.

sample09:
You mean like Osun State or Kogi state

Correct.

Ra88:
If the country was not a fuckedd up country, while would he need the permission of the F/Govt.

Planned by British to control growth and development of Nigeria...to hold back certain Nigerians or regions that want to do well for themselves. Same with Ports and Airports. States must get permission to build a port or an airport.

When we are shouting referendum, we know why.

Watch the federal government play politics with this laudable plan.

For those,who are not aware,welcome to the politics of EXECUTIVE and CONCURRENT list.

Good morning

this man keeps raising the bar..impressed

Impressive projection. We hope to see full implementation of this project

Lagos is striving higher

Eko o ni baje

Just looking

Let me just silent. good morning! abegi when alert go enter? today is August 5.

Ehiscotch:
Did the recent Senate amendment have anything to do with this?

The maggots shot it down, the gambari fulani domineering hegemony at work. They never support anything progressive.... we are screwed. And some useless southerners want to continue this way

With restructuring a state doesn't need FG approval to develop power

Way to go
Government should endeavor to give nod to ipp from any where, we need every bit of power we can get, beurocratic bottlenecks shouldn't be an impediment to power, the sector is still redeemable, the National grid system needs overhaul decentralization


The plethora of issues bugging down power sector is cumbersome,

Solutions from Ventures Africa
1.end to recurrent vandalism - the government and are agencies need to engage the inhabitants hosting gas to power assets and infrastructures, for a blueprint and synergy for its protection, with the aid of hi-tech digital surveillance security, while pursuing the amnesty programme to mitigate militancy, coupled with negotiations to meet their demands to curtail the bleeding of arteries of gas to power infrastructure network.

2.expansion of access to off-grid electricity and renewable energy, by putting end to risk-averse and rigid regulatory framework, hence with use of dynamic regulatory tools and sound risk management mechanism.

3.development of a strategy to ensure electricity affordability by reevaluation of tariff purchasing power of consumers, and ensuring liquidity in the power value chain

4.facilitation of transactions to boost, incrementally, the sources of power generation, beurocratic hindrance have stalled commencement of some ipps like Geometric, azura etc

5.reformation of transmission sector - the transmission company of Nigeria needs to act as commercial administrator, market operator and independent system operator.ease of liquidity constraints will dishamper the cumbersome accumulation of debt

6.distribution coys need to aid the value chain with provision of smart meter for consumers, To forestall some cases of loss

7.reformation of gas sector-liberalization of gas to power market, domestic supply obligation needs are to be considered to ease the price of gas, in line with the gas reform programme

Ehiscotch:
OBJ wasn't joking when he said Lagos will become the third largest economy in Africa before he passes on.

Obasanjo deserve to be in jail. A long term jail period.
He destroyed nigeria more than anybody else.

sample09:
Lagos.. Get set to be over crowded

You mean these IPOB

sample09:
Lagos.. Get set to be over crowded

You mean I P O D

IN THE SAME NIGERIA SOME GOVERNORS ARE IMPORTING SNAKES, OTHERS ARE DONATING WHEELBARROWS, STILL OTHERS ARE EATING EWEDU ON THE ROAD AND SOME ARE OWING 16 MONTHS SALARIES.
LAGOS, KEBBI GOVERNORS AND FEW OTHERS DON'T IWE SALARIES SO THEIR HEADS ARE FREE TO DEVELOP THEIR STATES How can you sleep well and think well when you are owing the living and the dead?