Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has implored the House of Representatives to allow state governments to have input into the Electricity Bill 2022 ,which will enable them generate own electricity and develop at their pace.
He gave the suggestion on Tuesday during the handover ceremony of the Lagos State Integrated Energy Resource Plan (IRP)which was done by the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in collaboration with the United States of America through the USAID and Power Africa Nigeria Power Sector Program (PA-NPSP).
He said: “This is about power partnership, which started eight years ago by the Barack Obama administration. Currently, Lagos State can boast of the biggest gas in this country.Lagos needs to increase its electricity generation capacity to help develop small business, grow the GDP of the State and Nigeria. I hope when we look back years to come, Lagos IRP would have impacted on more people.
“I also want to use this opportunity to call on the Speaker of the House of Representatives to join us to resolve all the issues in the Electricy Bill,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Speaking,Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Olalere Odusote, explained that the initiative is a 20-years partnership that would also involve the two electricity distribution companies in Lagos; Ikeja and Eko Discos, adding it would transform the power deficiencies in Africa.
He said: “Electricity is the basis for human growth and development. Electricity is the core foundation of development for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.“
He noted that the plan was aimed at identifying infrastructure requirements and bridging gaps, as well as bringing needed investments in the electricity sector.
Also speaking,Consul-General, United States Consulate in Lagos, Williams Stevens, described electricity as the basis of economic growth, trade and investments and expressed the United States government’s excitement at partnering with Lagos State.
He said: “This is the main dream for President Barack Obama for Africa’s development, which started 2014 and I am glad that eight years after it has come to full circle.”