Ayodele Olalere
The Lagos State government through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, a federal government agency, on Monday in Lagos signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU for the provision of renewable energies for rural communities in the state.
The signing, which was done at a Round Table event held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos, was the first of such collaboration between the agency and a state government and was witnessed by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hazmat who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other top government functionaries.
According to the deputy governor, the MOU was in line with the administration’s commitment to promoting renewable energy initiatives, especially in the electricity sector, to boost economic activities within the state.
Hazmat said records show that 4.5million generators are being used in Lagos and with Nigeria having an infrastructure deficit there’s need for alternative sources of power aside from fossil fuel.
He added that Lagos has high numbers of Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs who lack electricity and are facing the challenge of over-billing by electricity companies.
“Power is one of the biggest challenges in our country so we are happy about this collaboration. Nigerians generate a lot of power, but it does not get distributed to everybody because it is isolated. We have excess energy but it is just misdirected.
We are ready to support you because
If you are producing power, it leads to more economic activities. We have about 4.5 million generators in Lagos. People have 30 kVA, 50 kVA and do not rely on the power generated,” Hazmat said.
He.noted that by providing alternative energies for rural communities especially the agricultural areas, schools and hospitals, it will boost productivity and create a cleaner, safer, and more environmentally friendly environment in Lagos.
The deputy governor however urged the management of REA to consult and engage the Community Development Associations, CDA’s, and Community Development Committees, CDC’s, for the protection of solar panels in communities that will benefit from the project.
The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye,said that the project aimed to harness sustainable energy sources.
According to him, it would reduce reliance on traditional fossil fuels and promote a cleaner, more environmentally friendly power grid within the state.
The commissioner said the collaboration would unlock a new set of opportunities in the energy sector. He told stakeholders that there are lots of opportunities for investment in renewable energy for rural transformation in Lagos State.
“We are about to launch into a partnership with REA which will unpack a whole new set of opportunities. Lagos is the industrial hub of Nigeria and we need more renewables in the state than any other state. The signing is to let investors see the potential in renewable energy in the state. It is an opportunity for Lagosians to experience or live within an environment where there will be a constant stable supply of electricity,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer, REA, Abubakar Ndiye, said the agency is already doing local production of solar.panels in the Ikotun area of the state adding that the agency wants to make Lagos the home of renewable assets in the entire country .
He noted that 183 communities in Lagos in places like Badagry, Epe, Ibeju -Lekki among others have already been identified and can be served with an off-grid electrification by providing them with renewable and clean energy.
“What the agency is striving for is, domesticating the manufacturing of deep renewable equipment in the country and Lagos is going to play a pivotal role in that domestication,” he said.
This MoU signifies a long-term strategic relationship between the two parties to scale up the deployment of decentralized solar power generation and distribution projects in Lagos State.
