Agencies sign agreement to kick start Lagos State Integrated Resource Plan

&NewLine;<p>The first phase in the implementation of the Lagos State Integrated Resource Plan has begun with the official signing of a letter of Cooperation to develop electrification plan for Lagos&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>The agreement was reached on Tuesday during a virtual signing event when the representatives of the Lagos State Government and the U&period;S&period; Agency for International Development &lpar;USAID&rpar; Power Africa Nigeria Power Sector Program &lpar;PA-NPSP&rpar; executed a Letter of Cooperation to formally launch the Lagos State Integrated Resource Plan &lpar;IRP&rpar; initiative&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>A statement signed by the governor’s spokesman&comma; Gboyega Akosile and made available to OpenLife stated that<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>the Lagos State Integrated Resource Plan&comma; which will be developed in close coordination with PA-NPSP&comma; will serve as a roadmap to guide the development and implementation of a comprehensive electrification strategy that is best suited to the long-term needs of Lagos State&period; The Integrated Resource Plan&comma; when developed&comma; will be an effective tool for improved planning and decision making towards accelerating successful investment in the electricity sector and ultimately increasing electricity accessibility and reliability in Lagos State&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Babajide Sanwo-Olu&comma; Lagos State Governor emphasized the importance of &nbsp&semi;the virtual signing ceremony&comma; saying &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;To improve access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa&comma; there is no better place to start than in Nigeria&period; The Integrated Resource Plan is a priority initiative for the Lagos State Government and it underpins our electricity strategy to ensure access and reliability to Lagos residents is a reality&comma;” he said&period;&nbsp&semi;&nbsp&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>&nbsp&semi;He thanked the Power Africa Nigeria Power Sector Program including all the domestic stakeholders for providing support to ensure the Lagos Integrated Resource Plan becomes a reality and for their continuous support towards making Lagos greater&period;&nbsp&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>In his remarks&comma; Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources&comma; Mr&period; Olalere Odusote&comma; described the signing ceremony as a significant milestone in the implementation plan of the Lagos State Government towards improving electricity access in the State&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>However&comma; USAID’s Mission Director&comma; Mr&period; Stephen M&period; Haykin explained that&comma; &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;Power Africa recognises the importance of reliable electricity supply to Nigeria’s present and future&period; From energy perspective&comma; I can&&num;8217&semi;t think of a better way to accelerate access to electricity than to actively partner with the Lagos State Government for the development of a robust Integrated Resource Plan&period; To this end&comma; it is vital that we support this initiative&comma; as it serves as a critical planning process to meet consumers’ needs for electricity services in a way that satisfies multiple objectives for resource use&period;”&nbsp&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;