Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu commissioned a series of electrification projects in the Badagry axis, ending what residents had described as a prolonged and economically devastating blackout that had crippled businesses, shuttered shops and forced families to spend outrageous amounts on generator fuel for a really long time
The governor was represented at the ceremony by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat. “We are not merely commissioning power infrastructure. We are restoring confidence, unlocking opportunities and bringing lasting relief to communities that have long awaited improved electricity supply,” Hamzat said on behalf of the governor.
The projects commissioned include three HC tower crossings, the rehabilitation of 33KV distribution lines along the Gbaji-Seme and Owode-Apa corridors, and the connection of 51 transformer substations, a comprehensive intervention specifically designed to address the longstanding electricity challenges in the area.
Central to the project is the construction of three massive electrical distribution towers crossing the Gbaji Lagoon critical infrastructure linking the mainland grid to the coastal communities and designed to withstand the unique coastal geography of the Badagry corridor.
The governor connected the project directly to Lagos State’s broader economic vision. “This intervention aligns strongly with our THEMES+ Development Agenda, particularly our commitment to expanding energy access and building resilient infrastructure that supports economic growth across every part of Lagos State,” he said, adding that beyond providing electricity the project represents an opportunity for traders to extend their business hours, artisans and small manufacturers to increase productivity, and schools and healthcare facilities to operate more efficiently.
Just days earlier the governor had inaugurated the five-man board of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, appointing Alexander Akinwunmi Ogunbiyi as chairman and Temitope George as CEO, a move designed to strengthen the institutional framework required for effective regulation of the electricity market across Lagos State. “With the recent inauguration of the Board of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Lagos is positioning itself to regulate and expand electricity supply more effectively, ensuring that infrastructure investments such as this deliver lasting benefits to our people,” he said.
The commissioning ceremony drew high-ranking government officials, paramount rulers from across the Badagry Division and political stakeholders to witness what many residents described as the true independence day for the local economy.
Residents were urged by the governor to take collective ownership of the new infrastructure and protect it from vandalism to ensure it serves their communities for years to come.
