The Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) has identified bottlenecks between the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Distribution Companies (DisCos) that are limiting the amount of electricity that can reach consumers in Lagos.
The commission disclosed this during an on-the-spot monitoring and fact-finding tour of key TCN transmission facilities in Lagos, including the Akangba and Ijora substations.
The visit followed concerns over reports that about 200 megawatts (MW) of electricity could not reach consumers in Lagos.
However, LASERC’s Executive Member, Engineering and Standards, Engr. Adekunle Olapade, told Nairametrics that the fact-finding exercise was aimed at determining whether the constraint was due to TCN’s transmission capacity or the ability of DisCos to take additional electricity.
Olapade said the commission’s assessment found that both TCN and the DisCos have capacity, but that bottlenecks between the two companies need to be addressed.
Olapade said the assessment showed that TCN has the capacity to transmit the required power.
He said the DisCos also have the capacity to take additional electricity.
However, distribution infrastructure and system protection challenges remain constraints to taking more electricity from the transmission network.
TCN had also raised concerns about frequent tripping, particularly during the rainy season.
Olapade said increased investment in distribution infrastructure would be required for Lagos to take more electricity from the transmission network.
Olapade said improvements in DisCos’ infrastructure capacity would enable them to absorb more electricity from the transmission network. He said TCN’s concerns over frequent tripping, particularly during the rainy season, also needed to be addressed.
LASERC expects electricity supply to Lagos residents to improve as stakeholders work together to resolve the bottlenecks across the electricity value chain.
The latest assessment comes as the Lagos State Government and LASERC continue to expand electricity market regulation and infrastructure development in the state.
These approvals form part of the state’s ongoing electricity market activities as LASERC takes on a greater role in regulating and developing the sector.
LASERC plans to begin the pilot rollout of 24/7 electricity franchise zones across Lagos by October 2026 as part of its Short-Term Regulatory Agenda.
In March 2026, Sanwo-Olu inaugurated LASERC’s board, formally commencing the commission’s operational leadership of electricity market reforms in Lagos.
