Lagos Moves to End Blackouts as FG, State Unveil Bold 3,500MW Plan for 24/7 Electricity
- Lagos aims to boost electricity supply to 3,500MW amid persistent blackouts and economic growth
- Stakeholders emphasise need for investment in gas supply and infrastructure alongside power generation
- Governor Sanwo-Olu calls for stronger coordination to build consumer confidence in electricity services
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Pascal Oparada is a journalist with Legit.ng, covering technology, energy, stocks, investment, and the economy for over a decade.
The Federal Government and Lagos State Government have unveiled plans to raise electricity supply in the state to about 3,500 megawatts (MW), as part of renewed efforts to tackle persistent blackouts and power the state’s growing economy.
The plan was announced at the Lagos State High-Level Strategic Power Town Hall Meeting held at Lagos House, Marina, where government officials, regulators and industry operators agreed that reliable electricity is essential to sustaining Lagos’ economic and industrial growth.
Source: Getty Images
Representing the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, the ministry’s Director of Distribution Services, Baba Mustapha, said Lagos requires more than 6,000MW to fully meet its electricity demand.
He noted that the state currently receives only a fraction of that requirement from the national grid, making additional investments across the electricity value chain critical.
More generation alone won’t solve the crisis
Mustapha stressed that increasing power generation would not be enough without simultaneous investments in gas supply, transmission, distribution infrastructure and metering, according to a report by Daily Sun.
He disclosed that Lagos had already secured 400MW from private power producers, while urging the state to explore gas-fired, embedded and renewable energy sources to expand available electricity.
According to him, the 3,500MW target would require coordinated action across generation, transmission and distribution to ensure that additional power actually reaches consumers.
Lagos moves to end the “culture of blackout”
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu called for stronger coordination among stakeholders, alongside improvements in smart metering, data management, regulatory enforcement and revenue assurance.
He said these measures would help rebuild consumer confidence, improve electricity service delivery and create conditions capable of attracting sustained private investment into the sector, ThisDay reports.
Sanwo-Olu also proposed that stakeholders reconvene within five to six months to assess progress and review the implementation of commitments reached at the meeting.
Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Abiodun Ogunleye, said the state government was determined to end what he described as the “culture of blackout” in Lagos.
2GW additional power target
Ogunleye said Lagos currently receives less than one gigawatt of electricity from the national grid, despite the Transmission Company of Nigeria having about 3.5GW of wheeling capacity.
He explained that the immediate objective is to add about 2GW to existing supply, bringing available electricity closer to 3.5GW.
The additional capacity, he said, would enable more feeders to supply homes, businesses and industries across Lagos.
Source: Twitter
The ambitious target signals a broader push to transform Lagos’ electricity market, reduce dependence on inadequate grid supply and create a more reliable power system capable of supporting businesses, industries and households around the clock.
For a state that remains Nigeria’s commercial powerhouse, stakeholders believe achieving the 3,500MW target could mark a major turning point in the battle against persistent power shortages.
FG to scrap electricity subsidy
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to gradually eliminate electricity subsidy and implement cost-reflective tariffs across Nigeria's power sector, while assuring that low-income and vulnerable households will receive targeted support to cushion the impact of the reforms.
The assurance was given by the Special Adviser to the President on Power Infrastructure, Sadiq Wanka, during the Asharami Square 3.0 event organised by Sahara Group in Lagos on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
The event, themed "Energising Africa's Future: Legacy, Impact, and Transformation," focused on sustainable energy development and the future of Africa's power sector, Punch reported.
Source: Legit.ng
