By Bisola Adeyemo
The Lagos State government has promised to distribute 20,000 free prepaid meters for five communities:Isale-Eko, Surulere, Alimosho, Agege and Mushin.
Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources Olalere Odusote stated this on Tuesday when he addressed reporters as part of activities to mark Governor Bababjide Sanwo-Olu’s second year in office.
According to him, the meters are ready but the partnering firm is helping to calculate the amount of energy consumed and the infrastructure needed before installation.
He added: “Evaluation and enumeration of the amount of energy consumed and infrastructure needed is expected to be done by month-end before we can start installing the meters.”
Odusote also said all street lights in the state will become fully functional by July ending to fulfill the government’s promise to ‘Light up Lagos’.
According to him, an electricity policy will be set to serve as a blueprint for the attainment of universal access to electricity. The policy, he added, will also accelerate the ‘Light-up Lagos’ initiative. The nation reports
He reiterated that the “Lagos Electricity Policy is vital in achieving the T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda of this administration, and will serve as a key driver for the social and economic development aspirations of the state in consonance with the government’s 30-year development plan (2021 – 2051), currently being developed.”
He added: “I can assure you that the Light up Lagos will become active again; the firm given the concession has promised this. We will also light up our pedestrian bridges as they are part of our public infrastructure. This campaign is assured because we have come up with an electronic monitoring system to ensure this does not fail; nobody has to go on any monitoring, but we will know how many street lights come on and how many are failing.
“Our policy will also ensure a 60 per cent reduction in the cost of lighting these poles because we will be using LED to cover about 1,200 of them.”
The commissioner also said the state, in partnership with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), has shut gas plants that lack proper licensing and will keep at it to prevent explosions and ensure a secured environment.
