Lagos State has approved 14 electricity licences and permits covering off‑grid generation, embedded generation, independent distribution, metering services and mini‑grid operations, the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) announced after its first stakeholder engagement of the year.
The licences were granted to a mix of Nigerian and foreign firms as part of LASERC’s effort to create a structured intrastate electricity market that attracts private investment and enhances power reliability.
- Axxela Limited received approval for a 5.8 MW off‑grid plant at Cadbury Nigeria Plc in Agidingbi.
- Daybreak Power Solutions Limited was awarded multiple off‑grid licences for facilities owned by Seven‑Up, Nigerian Breweries, NBC, Crown Flour Mill, Nigerdock and Promasidor.
- Isolo Power Gen Limited secured a 9 MW embedded generation licence for a project along the Apapa‑Oshodi Expressway in Isolo.
- Isolo Power Supply Limited was licensed as an Independent Electricity Distribution Network operator.
- Additional licences were issued to New Hampshire Capital, GossLink Engineering and Enaro Energy Mini‑Grid Limited for metering and mini‑grid operations.
LASERC said the approvals represent a major regulatory step in Lagos’ evolving electricity market framework, designed to broaden private‑sector participation and improve electricity access for industrial clusters and peri‑urban communities. The commission highlighted that decentralised solutions—embedded generation, mini‑grids and independent distribution—are intended to ease pressure on the national grid while delivering more reliable supply.
The regulator outlined its medium‑term targets, aiming for 97.5 % electricity availability across Lagos by 2030 and a reduction of market losses to below 10 %. To achieve these goals, LASERC will implement a series of reforms beginning in 2026:
- By October 2026, two to three pilot 24/7 electricity franchise zones will be launched to test round‑the‑clock supply.
- Grid Interface Guidelines and a 100 % metering programme will commence in July 2026.
- Consumer‑complaint centres will open in phases, starting in Amuwo‑Odofin in August and expanding to Ikorodu and Epe in September.
- The Electric Eye of Lagos (EEL) programme—a AI‑enabled metering system—will be finalised by August 2026, with pilots deployed in October.
- Draft market rules will be released in October 2026, finalised by December, alongside regulatory sandbox guidelines to foster innovation.
The licences and the forthcoming regulatory measures build on the Lagos Electricity Bill, signed into law by Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu in 2024, which established LASERC as the state’s independent electricity regulator. By formalising a competitive, investment‑driven market, Lagos aims to set a benchmark for electricity delivery in Nigeria’s megacities.
