The Lagos State Government has accused electricity distribution companies of frustrating its efforts to fully take control of the state’s electricity sector and deliver cheaper, more stable power to residents.
Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, made this known during a phone interview on Monday while responding to questions on Lagos’ transition to an independent electricity market and its plan to set its own tariffs.
His comments came as states with regulatory powers begin slashing tariffs. Enugu State, for instance, recently issued a new order cutting the electricity rate for Band A customers from N209 per kilowatt-hour to N160/kWh, effective August 2025.
Ogunleye said Lagos is studying Enugu’s model but lamented that distribution companies in the state are blocking progress.
“We are battling with our Discos. They are not in agreement with anything we are doing,” he said. “They are even behind the amendment bill in the Senate.”
While Lagos is expected to announce its tariff structure next week, the commissioner admitted that moving forward has been “increasingly difficult” due to the non-cooperation of the Discos.
“We’ve done everything required, but the challenge is their resistance,” he said, adding that they often delay talks under the guise of holding meetings but never act on anything.
This comes as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission revealed that seven states, including Enugu, Ondo, and Ekiti, now control their electricity markets following the 2023 Electricity Act. Lagos, Ogun, Niger, and Plateau are among states expected to complete their transitions by September.
In May 2025, Lagos unveiled an ambitious power roadmap, including plans to deploy smart grids across the state. This initiative is grounded in the Lagos State Electricity Law signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in December, granting the state authority over power generation, transmission, distribution, and trading.
At a press briefing in Ikeja, Ogunleye described the law as a major milestone that would pave the way for modern, technology-driven power solutions in Africa’s largest city.
