SANWO-OLU TARGETS OVER 3,000MW ELECTRICITY SUPPLY FOR LAGOS BY MARCH 2027

By: Muftau Fatimo

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced plans to increase electricity supply in the state to over 3,000 megawatts (MW) by March 2027, up from the current level of less than 1,000MW.

The initiative is part of the state government’s efforts to tackle persistent power outages and establish a 24-hour electricity economy to support businesses, industries and economic activities.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed this on Saturday at the Fourth Lagos Business School Africa Energy Conference (AEC 2026), held at the Honeywell Auditorium, Lagos Business School, along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, said the state was working to mobilise an additional 2,000MW through various channels, including national grid resources, independent power projects, energy hubs, power barges, energy traders and embedded generation.

He explained that achieving the target would require coordinated improvements across the electricity value chain, including power generation, transmission, distribution, gas supply and metering.

“Our immediate objective is to mobilise 2,000MW of additional electricity supply through multiple channels, including additional national-grid resources, Lagos independent power projects and energy hubs, excess generation, power barges, energy traders and embedded generation.

“Our ambition is to move from below 1,000MW today to well above 3,000MW by March 2027, while continuing to build towards the larger requirements of the Lagos economy,” he said.

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

He added that the government was working to strengthen the state’s transmission network, upgrade substations and distribution feeders, and expand metering coverage to reduce estimated billing and improve service delivery.

According to him, the state 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.

Sanwo-Olu further stressed the importance of reliable gas supply to power plants, alongside the deployment of digital technologies such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and the Lagos Electricity Intelligence Platform.

He said the technologies would enhance monitoring, accountability and transparency across the electricity market.

On renewable energy, the governor disclosed that the state had completed the solarisation of about 42,000 of the approximately 50,000 streetlights earmarked for the initiative.

He added that solarisation projects had also been completed in 175 public schools, while work was ongoing in another 100 schools.

Sanwo-Olu called on investors, financial institutions, energy operators and development partners to collaborate with the state government to achieve its electricity objectives.

He noted that reliable power supply was essential to industrial growth, job creation, business competitiveness and improved living standards, stressing that the government was now focused on disciplined implementation and measurable results.

Speaking at the conference, Vice President, Deepwater Assets and Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Ronald Adams, called for the effective implementation of Nigeria’s energy sector reforms to attract investment, accelerate oil and gas development and improve energy access.

Adams said Nigeria’s oil and gas resources could drive industrialisation and strengthen energy security if supported by competitive fiscal policies, regulatory certainty, efficient project approvals and disciplined execution.

He noted that the country’s estimated 37 billion barrels of oil and condensate reserves, alongside more than 250 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves, presented significant economic opportunities.

However, he cautioned that the availability of natural resources alone would not guarantee prosperity.

Reaffirming Shell’s commitment to Nigeria, Adams said natural gas must play a central role in supporting electricity generation, manufacturing and industrial development.

He added that the country’s energy future depended on converting its natural resources into reliable power, productive industries and shared prosperity.

Similarly, President of the Lagos Business School Energy Club, Sebilat Quadri, said the conference was designed to provide a platform for policymakers, financiers, investors, energy operators, academics and other stakeholders to discuss issues shaping Nigeria’s energy future.

She noted that the conference theme reflected the need to transform the country’s energy potential into bankable projects, mobilised capital, critical infrastructure and measurable economic impact.

Earlier, Dean of Lagos Business School, Prof. Olayinka David-West, emphasised the importance of reliable, affordable and sustainable energy to Nigeria’s economic growth, industrial development and investment prospects.

David-West said energy remained central to business competitiveness, industrial productivity, citizens’ quality of life and the economy’s capacity to generate jobs and prosperity.

She urged stakeholders to adopt a holistic approach to addressing persistent challenges in the energy sector, particularly those relating to policy, infrastructure, financing and market development.

Pic 1: Lagos State Deputy Governor,

Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat (left) receiving an award from the Dean of Lagos Business School, Prof. Olayinka David-West (right), during the Fourth Lagos Business School Africa Energy Conference (AEC 2026), held at the Honeywell Auditorium, Lagos Business School

(LBS), Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, on Saturday.

Pic 2: L-R: Professor, Strategic

Management and Governance, Lagos Business School, Franklin Nnaemeka Ngwu; Vice President, Deepwater Assets/Managing Director Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Ronald Adams; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat;

Dean of Lagos Business School, Prof. Olayinka David-West; Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Samuel Egube; President, Lagos Business School Energy Club, Sebilat Quadri and Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye during the

Fourth Lagos Business School Africa Energy Conference (AEC 2026), held at the Honeywell Auditorium, Lagos Business School (LBS), Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, on Saturday.