NEWS
Lagos Gov’t Launches Bid For 500MW Gas Power Hubs Amid Energy Crisis
In a significant move to address Lagos State’s ongoing energy crisis, the Lagos State Government has issued an open call for bids from independent power producers and energy solution companies to establish gas-fired power plants.
The initiative, unveiled by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) in collaboration with the Office of Public-Private Partnerships (OPPP), is designed to generate up to 500 megawatts (MW) of electricity across four dedicated energy hubs in Lagos.
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This ambitious project is part of the Clean Lagos Electricity Market (CLEM) initiative, aimed at enhancing energy security and sustainability within Africa’s largest metropolitan area, with over 20 million residents.
Current electricity distribution in Lagos falls significantly short, with supply often limited to less than 2,000 MW at peak times, despite demand exceeding 6,000 MW.
Closing the Energy Gap
The project, according to MEMR, includes strategically positioned hubs near existing Distribution Companies (DisCos) substations, allowing optimal power distribution.
Each hub is expected to house a gas-fired plant with a minimum capacity of 100 MW per participating company, aiming to boost the state’s energy supply and address the growing needs of Lagos’ industrial, commercial, and residential sectors.
“The Clean Lagos Electricity Market is crucial to bridging the gap between our energy demand and supply.
This project will support the state’s dynamic economic growth and ensure a stable energy future,” a government spokesperson commented.
Strengthening Energy Security and Sustainability
The Lagos State Government emphasized its commitment to long-term energy security through the initiative, which it sees as a step toward reducing the city’s dependence on the national grid and bolstering Lagos’ leadership in sustainable energy solutions.
Each of the four hubs has a target generation capacity of 500 MW, with support available to private-sector investors for project financing, engineering, construction, commissioning, and plant operation.
Additionally, companies involved in the project will be responsible for securing a steady fuel supply, primarily natural gas, to maintain continuous operations.
The minimum generation capacity of 100 MW per plant is non-negotiable, underscoring the state’s dedication to robust infrastructure that meets Lagos’ demanding energy needs.
Encouraging Investment and Innovation
To attract a mix of technical and financial expertise, the state welcomes bids from both individual companies and consortia, with one company required to serve as the lead in consortium bids.
Detailed application guidelines are available at www.ppplagos.lagosstate.gov.ng, with additional inquiries directed to info@ppplagos.ng.
“Our goal is to foster a competitive environment that draws top-tier energy companies to Lagos. We’re confident this project will bring world-class innovation and expertise to our energy sector,” said the MEMR.
What You Need to Know
As Nigeria’s most populous state, Lagos not only accounts for a large share of the country’s electricity consumption but also relies heavily on petrol for power, consuming around 6.6 billion liters annually.
This dependency contributes to an estimated 17.8 million tons of carbon emissions each year, driven largely by the city’s limited and unreliable grid supply.
The planned power plants represent a critical step in meeting Lagos’ energy needs and reducing its reliance on the national grid, while contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable energy landscape.
With these initiatives, Lagos State hopes to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population and position itself as a leader in sustainable energy development.
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
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