Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday inaugurated a committee to boost household and business power supply, with a charge on them to work assiduously to create an enabling environment that will ensure 24-hour power supply to residents in the state.
The governor who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja while inaugurating the Power Committee, said it was a common knowledge that power supply is a major challenge, adding that it must be addressed in order to achieve sustainable economic growth and development in Nigeria and Lagos State in particular.
He said that in view of the importance of the Lagos economy to the nation and the concerns that have been expressed particularly by the business community, his administration has considered it expedient to constitute an advisory committee on power, adding that no state in the federation is more affected by the state of the power sector than Lagos.
The Governor said that Lagos State accounts for over 60 percent of the industrial and commercial activities in Nigeria, emphasizing that the energy requirement for the state is estimated at about 5,000 Mega Watts of which only about 1000 Mega Watts is currently being supplied; hence the need to inaugurate a committee that would ensure the power need of the people is met.
He said members of the Committee consist of representatives from the State Government and industry experts from the private sector urging them to provide a sustainable guide in the development of a roadmap for reliable power supply in the state, foster collaboration and develop a congress or platform for all major power stakeholders in the state and the private sector.
Members of the Committee include the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Wale Oluwo, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem and the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde.
Other members of the committee include representatives of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Gaslink Nigeria Limited, Falcon Corporation Limited and Egbin Power Plc.
Ambode, shortly after the inauguration, tasked the committee to make electricity available to Lagosians for both business and domestic use, just as he expressed confidence that they would not disappoint Lagosians.
The governor also hinted that in order to underscore his administration’s commitment to security of the lives and property, his administration has embarked on an aggressive programme of lighting up Lagos and explained that major highways and streets are being connected from point to point using Independent Power Projects (IPPs) and other means effectively.
He also encouraged individuals, private homes and corporate organizations to take up streets or roads of their choice and light them up with connections to their meters and generators, assuring that the state government will reciprocate the gesture by giving concessions to them in the payment of their annual Land Use Charges.
“In addition, they shall receive Special Commendation letters from the Governor. Such projects will also be commissioned by government officials and Community Development Associations. We believe that this initiative will promote a new culture of co-operation and ownership”, he said.
Earlier, Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Wale Oluwo, said with the success of the IPPs, the state which provides 24-hour power supply to public facilities, the state government is working towards ensuring that residents in the state can enjoy regular power supply in their homes.
In a related development, Ambode also identified water transportation as a key solution to traffic gridlock across Lagos metropolis just as he vowed to develop the sector in the overall interest of the state.
The governor, who spoke in Lagos at the first annual stakeholders’ forum organised by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), said the water transport mode, which is a critical part of the intermodal transport system of the government, would be developed with international best practices.
The governor, who was represented at the forum by the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, expressed delight that the forum took place at a time when one of the critical challenges facing the State was how to move citizens efficiently and effectively, while also improving the capacity of the various modes of transportation to correlate for the benefit of the people.
He recalled that the state was inundated with the challenge of traffic gridlock across the metropolis, adding that such was a sign that the prosperity of the State was on-going, being at the heart of the nation’s economy.
The governor added that not only is there a growing influx of people into the State, but that Lagos, just as other cities across the world, is facing the challenge of rapid urbanization, and as such there is the need to ensure provision of infrastructure that extends beyond the present generation.
He said: “In line with my administration’s vision to ensure a safe, secure and prosperous Lagos State, there is the need for the establishment of appropriate standards and regulations in line with international best practices towards the much needed implementation of water transport in Lagos.”
“These standards and regulations will be executed by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) in terms of licensing, registration and enforcement of vessels plying the State’s waterways with a strict adherence to compliance,” the Governor said.
While pledging the readiness of his administration to implement workable solutions to the many issues besetting the sector, Governor Ambode charged stakeholders to come up with ideas on how to develop and maintain the waterways in line with best practices.
He also urged existing and potential investors to increase patronage of water transport in Lagos.
On his part, Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola said over 99 percent of commercial bus drivers, popularly called Danfo Drivers, are hypertensive, and the health challenge was as a result of the issues associated with traffic congestion such as pollution of the environment.
Mobereola, who was represented by Dr. Olufemi Salam, Director of Transportation, Planning, Policy and Coordination in the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, said the statistics came about two years ago after a survey carried out by the Ministry.
He, therefore, advocated the need for the residents to embrace water transportation.
Managing Director of LASWA, Abisola Kamson said there was the need for residents to embrace water transportation which she said is cheaper, safer and faster.
Kamson, who listed the numerous economic and health benefits associated with water transportation, added that in line with Governor Ambode’s vision to develop other modes of transportation, LASWA had decided to come up with and enforce water regulations in line with international best practices.
