Lagos Targets Over 3,000MW Electricity by March 2027, Sanwo-Olu Says

The Lagos State Government plans to raise electricity supply to above 3,000 megawatts (MW) from below 1,000MW by March 2027. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the target at the fourth Lagos Business School Africa Energy Conference (AEC 2026) on October 11, 2026. He was represented by Deputy Governor Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat.

The conference held at the Honeywell Auditorium, Lagos Business School, along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos. Its theme was “Securing Nigeria’s Energy Future: Policy Reform, Capital Mobilisation, and Pathways to a Sustainable Power and Energy Market.” A statement on the state government’s official X account carried the announcement.

How Lagos Plans to Add 2,000MW

Sanwo-Olu said the state is working to mobilise an additional 2,000MW through national grid resources, independent power projects, energy hubs, power barges, energy traders and embedded generation.

He said hitting the target will require coordinated improvements across the electricity value chain, including generation, transmission, distribution, gas supply and metering.

The statement partly reads: “As part of efforts to end blackouts and build a 24-hour power economy in the state, the Lagos State Government has announced plans to increase electricity supply to the state to above 3,000 megawatts from the current level of below 1,000 megawatts by March 2027.”

Seven-Point Action Plan

To deliver the target, the governor outlined a seven-point action plan. It focuses on making the Lagos Electricity Market fully functional, increasing generation, strengthening distribution capacity, reinforcing transmission infrastructure, improving networks and metering, strengthening gas-to-power arrangements, and enhancing information technology and market visibility.

The state is working to strengthen its transmission network, upgrade substations and distribution feeders, and expand metering coverage to reduce estimated billing and improve electricity service delivery. It is also working to establish clear contractual obligations, improve coordination among electricity market operators and regulators, and create a commercially viable environment capable of attracting private investment.

Solar, Gas and Digital Systems

Sanwo-Olu emphasised the importance of reliable gas supply to power plants and the deployment of digital systems to improve monitoring, accountability and transparency. These include Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and the Lagos Electricity Intelligence Platform.

Lagos has completed the solarisation of about 42,000 of the approximately 50,000 streetlights earmarked for the initiative. Solarisation projects have also been completed in 175 public schools, while work is ongoing at another 100 schools.

Regulatory Groundwork

Nairametrics reported in May 2026 that the Lagos State Government approved 14 electricity licences and permits covering off-grid generation, embedded generation, independent distribution, metering services and interconnected mini-grid operations. The approvals were issued by the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) at its maiden stakeholder engagement.

The licensing exercise represents a regulatory step in the development of Lagos State’s intrastate electricity market framework, designed to expand private-sector participation and improve electricity access across industrial and residential clusters. LASERC said the exercise aims to build a structured electricity market that attracts investment and improves power reliability across Lagos.

What It Means for Lagos

Sanwo-Olu called on investors, financial institutions, energy operators and development partners to collaborate with the state in delivering the plan. He said reliable electricity is essential to industrial growth, job creation, business competitiveness and improved living standards. The focus, he said, is now on disciplined implementation and measurable results to support a sustainable electricity market and strengthen Lagos’s economic growth.