ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Lagos State Government says it is considering a plan to abolish the classification of electricity consumers into bands as introduced by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission in 2024.
In April 2024, NERC grouped electricity users into Bands A to E. Band A customers are classified as premium users who pay the actual cost of electricity and are guaranteed at least 20 hours of power supply daily, while other bands receive subsidised tariffs but with lower supply levels.
Speaking at a ministerial press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, said the state government is working toward achieving stable electricity supply for all residents without relying on the banding system.
With the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission now overseeing the state’s electricity market, Ogunleye said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu remains committed to ensuring consistent power supply across households.
Let me say this: Part of what we are trying to enable is an environment that eliminates banding. Banding says that you have 3, 8, 12, or 21 hours of electricity.
“What we are saying is, is it impossible to have a continuous power supply? The governor has thrown the challenge and even repeated it again this morning. Is it impossible to have a 24-hour power supply?
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“I strongly believe that we can do it. We have seen it before in this city. Banding is not what we want to focus our attention on,” he said.
Ogunleye had earlier stated that the state government would not continue electricity subsidies, stressing that consumers in Lagos would be required to pay the full cost of power as directed by the governor.
He added that the government had expanded solar streetlight installations, upgraded electricity infrastructure, and accelerated clean energy projects as part of efforts to position Lagos for a reliable 24-hour economy.
He also noted that the state is deepening implementation of the Lagos State Electricity Law 2024 to build a competitive power market driven by private sector participation.
According to him, the state has reviewed its Integrated Resource Plan and completed a Strategic Implementation Plan aimed at ending the single-buyer electricity model and promoting bilateral energy trading.
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Ogunleye said the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission had strengthened licensing and enforcement processes, while the Lagos Independent System Operator was being developed to enhance grid stability and market efficiency.
On renewable energy efforts, he said the government had replaced 22,000 conventional streetlights with solar-powered smart lighting systems across major roads, including Gbagada-Oshodi Expressway, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ikorodu Road, and Funsho Williams Avenue.
He added that an additional 20,000 solar streetlights had been installed, bringing the total to about 42,000 across the state.
The commissioner further disclosed that key public facilities had benefited from improved energy interventions.
He said Gbagada General Hospital now enjoys between 21 and 22 hours of electricity daily following the installation of 2MVA and 1MVA transformers.
According to him, lithium-ion battery storage systems have also been deployed in 11 primary healthcare centres and 52 secondary schools, while Lagos State Television has been fitted with a 200KVA solar power system.