- Lagos State and LCCI called for urgent investment to upgrade grids, expand generation and modernise distribution to make decentralisation work.
- Speakers urged Nigeria to address transmission bottlenecks, align regulations, and boost investor confidence to establish reliable and competitive state-level electricity markets.
The Lagos State Government and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Wednesday, November 19, called for increased investment in Nigeria’s power sector to support decentralisation, enhance competition, and strengthen energy security for homes and businesses.
Speakers at the LCCI Power Sector Conference stated that decentralisation under the Electricity Act would not succeed without fresh capital to upgrade ageing infrastructure, expand generation, and modernise distribution networks.
Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, represented by Chief Technical Officer Ogunade Hamed, said Nigeria has entered “a defining moment” in its energy transition. He noted that Lagos acted early to build a decentralised electricity market but stressed that distribution and transmission networks require significant investment and smarter management.
Ogunleye highlighted ongoing projects, including the expansion of embedded generation for industrial clusters, solar retrofits for 42,000 streetlights, and regulations that support mini-grids and hybrid systems. He also urged public and private actors to “invest, collaborate and demonstrate the courage to innovate.”
Olufemi Bakare, Chairman of the LCCI Power Sector Group, stated that Nigeria continues to face persistent infrastructure bottlenecks in transmission and distribution, despite improvements in generation. He called for solutions that attract investment, promote competition and ensure reliable electricity for businesses and households.
LCCI President Gabriel Idahosa warned that regulatory inconsistencies, weak networks and insufficient off-grid investment continue to undermine investor confidence. He said decentralisation must include harmonised standards and predictable policies to enable competitive state-level markets.
The conference, themed ‘Infrastructure Optimisation and Challenges in the Power Sector Amidst Current Decentralisation Efforts,’ brought together industry leaders, investors, and policymakers to discuss the investment required to sustain decentralised power markets.