Lagos State Commissioner, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Olalere Odusote (left) and Deputy Chief of Party, Power Africa – Nigerian Power Sector Support , Mr. Tunde Gbajumo (right) at the Signing ceremony in Lagos, Tuesday, June 14, 2020.
Lagos State government has executed a Letter of Cooperation with the United Agency for International Development (USAID) to effectively launch the State Integrated Resource Plan, under the Power Africa-Nigeria’s Power Sector Program initiative(PA-NPSP).
This is in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s efforts towards improving electricity access in Lagos for the enhanced sustainable economic development of the state.
At a virtual signing event held in Lagos on Tuesday, Sanwo-Olu, said, “To improve access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, there is no better place to start than in Nigeria. The Integrated Resource Plan is a priority initiative for the Lagos State Government as it underpins our power reform strategy to ensure that access to reliable and affordable electricity of residents becomes a reality”.
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He lauded the Power Africa-Nigeria Power Sector Program for leading the initiative and thanked the domestic stakeholders for providing support through their collective resolve to make the state greater and ensuring the state Integrated Resource Plan becomes a reality.
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Speaking on the occasion, the state Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Olalere Odusote, said the signing of the letter of Cooperation was a significant milestone in the implementation plan of the Lagos State Government to improve access of residents to affordable electricity.
He said, “It is impossible to have a sustainable economic plan without a strategic energy plan. The objective of the Lagos State Government is to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity to Lagos residents, a key enabler for the vision of making Lagos a 21st century economy. The Integrated Resource Plan will be a sustainable, long-term electrification plan for Lagos.”
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He explained that the Integrated Resource Plan would be developed within the framework of PA-NPSP and would be the roadmap to guide the development and implementation of a comprehensive electrification strategy that “will be best suited to the long-term development needs of Lagos State.
“The Integrated Resource Plan ( IRP) when developed, will be an effective tool for improved planning and decision making towards accelerating successful investment in the electricity sector and ultimately increasing electricity accessibility and reliability in Lagos State,” he added.
USAID’s Mission Director, Mr. Stephen M. Haykin, said that “Power Africa recognises the importance of reliable electricity supply to Nigeria’s present and future.
He said, “From an energy perspective, I can’t think of a better way to accelerate access to electricity than to actively partner with the Lagos State Government for the development of a robust Integrated Resource Plan.
“To this end, it is vital that we support this initiative, as it serves as a critical planning process to meet consumers’ needs for electricity services in a way that satisfies multiple objectives for resource use.”
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Chief of party for PA-NPSP, Mr. Tunde Gbajumo, emphasised the importance of collaborating with relevant stakeholders in developing sustainable solutions.
Gbajumo said that PA-NPSP and the Lagos State Government would work closely with various stakeholders in the state power sector to develop the Integrated Resource Plan.
“The Power Africa Nigeria Power Sector Program is excited to be part of this landmark event for the partnership between the Lagos State Government and USAID and hope that this event will serve as a further testament to the productive and sustainable growth of Nigeria’s energy sector,” he said.
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According to him, there will be a Study Team comprising of gas suppliers, the two Lagos distribution companies, generation companies, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Rural Electrification Agency and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Others at the event included the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Permanent Secretary, Lagos Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Ahmed Mustapha; General Manager, Lagos State Electricity Board as well as key representatives from Transmission Company of Nigeria, Rural Electrification Agency, Egbin Power PLC, Ikeja Electric PLC and Eko Electricity Distribution Company.
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