Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for special consideration for Lagos in the provision of power infrastructure, emphasizing the critical role of the power sector in the state's and the nation's economic development. Governor Sanwo-Olu made this appeal during his visit to the office of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, in Abuja.
According to a report by The Punch, Sanwo-Olu stressed that while Lagos is a vital economic hub, this request should not come at the expense of other states. "Lagos is critical and an important microcosm of the country, it should therefore be given major consideration in the provision of power infrastructure, but we are not saying this to the disadvantage of other states," he stated.
The governor highlighted the importance of the power sector as a fundamental driver of economic progress. "The power sector is critical for economic turnaround and the development of the country, you must therefore constantly improve on your performance," Sanwo-Olu urged the ministry's directors who were present during his visit.
Sanwo-Olu elaborated on the comprehensive impact of power on all sectors, encouraging the ministry to maintain strong cooperation with Minister Adelabu to fulfill their mandate and bring transformative change to the power sector. "Other critical sectors depend on power. I am therefore here to let you know how important you are to our development. Power is what can transform this country. We can use it as a springboard to galvanize our economy," he said.
The governor underlined the necessity of adequate power supply in driving private sector growth and enhancing the overall productivity of Nigerians. "Adequate power supply, apart from galvanizing the private sector, will also enable Nigerians to do things for themselves," he added. He pointed out that President Bola Tinubu's goal of achieving a N1 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) within five years is attainable, primarily through improved power supply which will lower production costs and spur private sector expansion.
"Mr. President is talking about N1tn Gross Domestic Product, this is possible within five years. The private sector is the real engine of growth and when we bring down the cost of production through improved power supply, the private sector will grow and will employ more people," Sanwo-Olu remarked. He further emphasized the government's role as an enabler of growth rather than the primary agent of economic development. "The government is not about growth, the government is just the enabler of growth. So, everybody must understand that once people are given power, they do not need the government, they will do things on their own and that’s how nations grow."
Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed high expectations for Minister Adelabu's performance based on his past achievements. "I have a high-performance expectation from the power minister based on his antecedents," he commended.
Permanent Secretary Mahmuda Mamman thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for his visit and expressed the ministry’s commitment to achieving its goals. He also sought the governor’s continued cooperation and support. "The government cannot do it alone," Mamman noted, underlining the importance of collaborative efforts to meet the ministry's mandate.