Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
December 10, 2015 – The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has rolled out mouth-watering incentives as part of efforts to light up every street within the Lagos metropolis.
Under the new scheme the governor said the state government is encouraging individuals, private homes and corporate organisations to light up their surrounding streets for incentives in form of concession on Land Use Charge.
“We have decided to encourage individuals, private homes,, individuals and corporate organisations to take up streets/roads of their choices and light them up with connections to their metres or generators. In return government will make concessions to these individuals and corporate organisations in the payment of their annual Land Use Charges.
“In addition, they shall receive Special Commendation letters from the Governor. Such projects will also be commissioned by government officials and community Development Associations”, the governor said while inaugurating the Lagos State Power Committee.
He said members of the committee shall include Commissioner for Energy & Mineral Resources, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, the Deputy Governor, who is chairman and representatives from the private sector.
Those from the private sector include Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Gaslink Nigeria Ltd, Falcon Corporations Limited and Egbin Power Plc.
According to him, the terms of reference include to create an enabling environment to ensure 24 hours power supply in Lagos State; to guide in the development of a roadmap for reliable power supply in Lagos, to foster collaborations and develop a congress/platform for all major power stakeholders in the state and the private sector.
He said that the ultimate goal is to make electricity available to Lagosians for both business and domestic use adding that the committee will be instrumental in the speedy realization of this objective.
He explained that the energy requirement of Lagos State is estimated at about 5,000 megawatts whereas only about 1,000 megawatts is supplied.
He identified the greatest impediment to power supply as low or non-investment in transmission capacity and high loss rate between generation and distribution.
Earlier in his speech, Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Wale Oluwo said the focus of the state government is development of captive power adding that there are currently 5 Independent Power Plants(IPP) in the state generating about 47. 5 megawatts.
He explained that having succeeded in powering streets lights the next phase is to supply power into homes hence the need for inauguration of the power committee.
