Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appealed to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to give special consideration to Lagos State in the provision of power infrastructure.
However, Sanwo-Olu said this is not to be done to the disadvantage of other states.
The governor spoke on Friday during a visit to the office of the power minister in Abuja.
Sanwo-Olu said no development can take place without the sector.
“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 said.
He described the power sector as a critical factor in economic development.
Addressing some of the ministry’s directors who received him in the company of the minister, the governor charged them to further improve their performance.
“The power sector is critical for economic turnaround and the development of the country, you must therefore constantly improve on your performance,” he said.
The governor disclosed that everything revolved around the power sector, enjoining the ministry to continue cooperating with Adelabu to deliver on their mandate and change the narrative in 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 galvanise our economy,” he said.
According to Sanwoolu, adequate power supply, apart from galvanising the private sector will also enable Nigerians to do things for themselves.
“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.
“The government is not about growth, 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,” he added.
Commending the minister, Sanwo-Olu said, “I have a high-performance expectation from the power minister based on his antecedents.”
Responding on behalf of the ministry, the Permanent Secretary, Mahmuda Mamman, while thanking the governor for the visit also solicited his cooperation and support in achieving the ministry’s mandate adding that the government cannot do it alone.