By Barbara Nwaiwu
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described Nigeria’s energy transition as the most critical phase in advancing energy security, saying recent power sector reforms have opened opportunities for states to improve electricity access.
Sanwo-Olu made the remarks on Tuesday during the Under2 States and Regions Dialogue held as part of the ongoing London Climate Summit themed, “Advancing Energy Security in a Volatile World,” organised by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Under2 Coalition in London.
The governor’s position was contained in an official statement issued by the Lagos State Government on Wednesday and signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile.
Speaking at the summit, Sanwo-Olu said the recent unbundling of Nigeria’s electricity sector had created an enabling environment for sub-national governments to participate directly in electricity generation and distribution as part of efforts to address energy challenges affecting citizens.
According to him, Lagos State is taking advantage of the evolving policy environment to improve electricity access through investments and innovative power solutions.
“I am from a country where I run a state of nearly 25 million people and, until very recently, everything regarding power generation and distribution was nationally controlled.”
“However, the sector has now opened up, allowing states to participate across the entire value chain, from generation to distribution.”
“We are actively changing the narrative around energy sufficiency. About 45% of the power generated in the country passes through Lagos, which underscores the scale of our responsibility and opportunity,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said Lagos was developing mini-grid solutions to serve smaller communities and improve electricity access for residents.
“We are designing models that allow us to manage and feed smaller communities through mini-grids.
“People who previously had less than 12 hours of electricity daily now enjoy between 20 and 21 hours of supply. This has greatly improved their economic productivity and quality of life,” he said.
The governor added that the state government had increased investment in renewable energy and disclosed that over 45,000 solar powered streetlights and poles had been installed across different parts of Lagos within the last year.
Highlighting Africa’s role in the global energy transition agenda, Sanwo-Olu said the continent possesses significant renewable energy potential and strategic mineral resources that position it as central to future energy discussions.
“There is a whole lot of interest that we are pushing on, especially in renewables. Statistics show that 60% of the solar needs and capabilities are in Africa, 30% of the minerals are in Africa and 25% of the population is there.
“If we need to be successful in whatever conversation in real transition and wanting to be a global conversation, I feel it has to be Africa.”
“I am putting the case forward that all of us won’t have an individual needs, but if only two want to be at scale and at relevance, we need to go to places where they have been underserved,” he said.
In a related development, Sanwo-Olu announced Lagos State’s commitment to hosting a Climate Action Week later in the year to showcase climate-focused initiatives and sustainable development projects across the state.
The announcement was made during an engagement with stakeholders on the sidelines of the summit in London.
According to the governor, the event is expected to hold in September and will provide governments, investors and development partners with an opportunity to assess ongoing climate initiatives in Lagos and across the sub-Saharan African region.
“We have done a lot of tangible projects, and people need to come down to Lagos and see things for themselves. It is not what you have on YouTube. The brands are ready. The opportunities are there, and we are ready to engage. We have the capacity.”
“We are making a commitment to set up a date in September or October when we are going to have our own Climate Action Week, where we are expecting nations and the world to come and see what we are doing not only in Lagos but also in the whole sub-Saharan region of Africa. We are using Lagos as a test case. We are committed to hosting the Climate Action Week, and we will do it,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu reiterated Lagos State’s commitment to climate resilience, renewable energy development and partnerships aimed at accelerating sustainable growth and expanding energy access.
