Lagos to Lead FG's 24/7 Energy Zones Pilot as First State for Round-the-Clock Electricity

The Federal Government and the Lagos State Government have agreed to collaborate on delivering stable and reliable electricity to Lagos under the proposed 24/7 Energy Zones pilot programme. Lagos will be the first location for the pilot approved by President Bola Tinubu, with the initiative later extended to the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Enugu-Port Harcourt corridors.

The agreement was reached during a high-level technical meeting between the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House, Marina. The Ministry of Power disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the meeting focused on practical solutions to the challenges affecting electricity supply and the power market in Lagos.

Four priority areas

Tegbe said the ministry had already engaged electricity distribution companies operating along the Lagos corridor and obtained commitments to take more power and supply customers more consistently. He said the collaboration with Lagos would focus on four priority areas identified by the Federal Government: grid stabilisation, improving market liquidity, expanding the electricity grid, and harmonising governance and regulatory frameworks.

According to the ministry, the meeting also produced an agreement to establish a joint technical committee to drive the energy zones initiative from the planning stage to implementation. The committee will examine outstanding technical and operational challenges and make recommendations on the actions required to commence the programme.

Sanwo-Olu backs federal push

Sanwo-Olu welcomed the Federal Government's efforts to tackle persistent problems in the electricity sector, noting that Tegbe had demonstrated a willingness to address long-standing challenges since assuming office as minister. The governor said Lagos was equally prepared to work with the Federal Government to develop practical solutions that would improve electricity supply and strengthen the state's electricity market.

He stressed the need for a collaborative approach that would create a bankable, competitive and sustainable electricity market capable of serving residents and businesses in Lagos.

What the energy zones are meant to do

The latest development comes a week after the Federal Government announced that it had started discussions with electricity distribution companies on the creation of dedicated energy zones capable of supporting 24-hour electricity supply. The proposed zones are designed to serve homes, businesses and industries located in areas with high electricity demand. The initial corridors identified for the programme are Lagos, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Enugu-Port Harcourt.

The Federal Government is expected to work with power distributors and other stakeholders to address supply, transmission, distribution and market-related challenges before the initiative is expanded to other parts of the country.

For businesses in Lagos, where diesel and generator costs remain a heavy burden, the pilot's progress will matter beyond the grid itself. A stable 24-hour supply in commercial and industrial clusters could cut operating costs and improve output, though the timeline depends on how quickly the joint technical committee moves from planning to delivery.