*Abubakar Aliyu, Minister for Power, says the electricity project funded with $170 million by the French Development Agency, is designed to increase the capacity the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry to boost supply to homes, businesses and offices in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Federal Government has disclosed its plans to increase the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s (TCN) wheeling capacity by over 1,000 Megawatts (MW) to boost electricity supply to Nigerian consumers.

Abubakar Aliyu, Honourable Minister for Power, said this while inspecting the ‘Abuja Ring Project’ being executed by TCN Friday, November 11, 2022, in Abuja, FCT.

Aliyu noted that the projects, which are six in number were made up of lines and substations, adding that when completed it will increase TCN’s willing capacity with over 1,000 MW of electricity.

Mr. Sule Abdulaziz, Managing Director of TCN,  Management Staff of Ministry of Power and TCN also inspected the project with the Minister.

Aliyu stated: “The project is about six and they are over 90 per cent completed and hope to be completed Nov, Dec, the contractor is chasing the completion date and when completed it will increase power supply in Abuja and environs.

“This project is funded by a loan of 170 million Dollars from the French Development Agency (AFD) and started by President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration in 2018 in the quest to increase the capacity the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).”

He also disclosed that the power projects consist of a new substation in Dawaki, Gwarinpa, New Apo Substation, and Old Apo existing substation among others in the FCT, agency report said.

There has been a 132 Kilo Volt (KV)line existing from Suleja to Katampe which initially was at Kubwa, said Aliyu.

The Minister further noted that the new substation would give Dawaki and environs more electricity as they have been depending on Kubwa.

According to him, a platform had been built at Old Apo Substation to receive a 60 Mega Volt Ampree transformer from the Siemens Power Project and that in a couple of days, it will be installed.

The Minister stated: “The new Apo substation is a new one and is recieving a 330 KVA line from Nassarawa to boost supply in Abuja and environs.”

In regard to the Siemens Power Project, Aliyu said that some engineers would be going to France before the end of November to do a factory test on some transformers.

He said that some of the transformers were already in the country and some on high sea.

The mobile substation with so many components, he said, will start coming January 2023, as they are being tested along with other transformers.

The Minister, therefore, appealed to electricity consumers to be patient as the Federal Government is doing a lot to improve power supply and in the West African country.