Lagos State is positioning itself at the forefront of Nigeria’s energy transformation as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and former Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji, called for a full embrace of power sector reforms, particularly the unbundling of the energy industry.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the Lagos Energy Summit on Tuesday, with the theme “Journey to Energy for All”, both leaders underscored the urgent need to decentralise power generation and distribution as a pathway to achieving universal, sustainable, and reliable energy access.

Sanwo-Olu described energy as a critical driver of economic growth and national development.

“Energy is the engine of growth and industrialisation,” he said. “Reforming the sector is not just a policy choice; it is a necessity for improving quality of life and driving development.”

Echoing the governor’s sentiments,  Nnaji highlighted the benefits of unbundling Nigeria’s power sector, noting that doing so would encourage competition, innovation, and investment.

“Unbundling the energy sector presents opportunities for competition and modernisation. It allows us to bring in new players, embrace technology, and attract the kind of investment needed to power our future,” Nnaji said.

He praised Lagos for its continued leadership in energy reform—a legacy he noted began during President Bola Tinubu’s tenure as governor of the state.

Nnaji also sounded the alarm on the nation’s energy deficit, pointing out that over 80 million Nigerians remain without access to electricity.

“With over 210 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, we must harness this resource. In the next 20 years, natural gas will be the dominant fuel for electricity generation in Nigeria,” he added.

The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, described the summit as a strategic foundation for a future-ready Lagos energy ecosystem.

“This summit lays the groundwork for a sustainable future—one where Lagos becomes more liveable, inclusive, and globally competitive,” Ogunleye stated.

He outlined key initiatives, including the Lagos Gas Master Plan, e-mobility platforms, and green energy solutions, while reaffirming the state’s commitment to research, innovation, and inclusive stakeholder engagement.

“We’re committed to making Lagos a place where people can live out their dreams, and we know that energy is key to that vision,” Ogunleye said.