Lagos Demands Answers Over Millions of Unmetered Consumers

Kehinde Adeleye

The Lagos State Government has questioned why millions of electricity consumers across the state remain without meters despite existing laws requiring all customers to be metered.

The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, shifted responsibility for closing the metering gap to electricity regulators at both the federal and state levels, saying the government had already provided the necessary policy and legal framework.

Ogunleye spoke on the state’s electricity reforms and efforts to improve power supply on the sidelines of the unveiling of 4 transmission substations in Lagos.

Asked what the state was doing to address the metering challenge, the commissioner said regulators should be held accountable for enforcing the existing laws.

“The law provides that all customers must be metered. The Lagos law insists that all customers must be metered.

“So, the question is: what are the regulators doing? What are they doing at the federal and the state level? I’m a policy maker, so don’t ask me that question. When you see the regulators, ask them,” he said.

Ogunleye maintained that Lagos had done its part by putting the necessary policies and legislation in place.

“As policy makers, we have ensured the policy document is there and the law is also there. So, if they’re not implementing it, they should come and tell us why they aren’t using it,” he added.

The commissioner also urged residents to obtain electricity meters, reject energy theft and protect power infrastructure.

“Let’s say no to energy theft. Let all of us protect this infrastructure. Let’s go and get our meters. And at the end of the day, let’s manage our use so that we don’t also burst our pockets,” Ogunleye advised.

He further appealed to residents to cooperate with electricity companies to help them remain financially sustainable.

Lagos Encourages Private Solar Power

Ogunleye disclosed that the state was encouraging private companies to invest in solar power, particularly in areas experiencing significant shortages from the national grid.

He clarified that the government was not providing free solar electricity but was creating an environment for private operators to offer alternative power solutions.

According to him, encouraging private investment in solar would help residents in areas where grid supply remains inadequate access electricity based on their needs and ability to pay.

Lagos Seeks Higher Transmission Capacity

The commissioner also disclosed that Lagos was working to increase electricity transmission capacity as part of its plans to improve power supply across the state.

He said additional transformation capacity had been commissioned by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, including an expansion of the Lekki substation.

According to Ogunleye, the Lekki substation is being expanded to double its capacity, while improvements are also ongoing at Ijora and Alausa.

He said Lagos would eventually need to triple its transmission capacity to meet the state’s growing electricity demands.

“What I know is that with time, there’s a need to triple capacity in the Lagos area, and it’s the right step in the right direction,” he said.

Ogunleye expressed optimism that increased transmission capacity would support Lagos’ target of distributing between 3 and 4 gigawatts of electricity across the state.