Frequent grid collapse: FEC approves N1.4 billion for TCN

Oredola Adeola

As part of measures to improve on the wheeling capacity and address some of the factors responsible for persistent power failure in the country, the Federal Executive Council(FEC), Wednesday, approved the sum of N1.4 billion to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for the supply of more equipment.

Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, Minister of Power, disclosed this at the end of Wednesday’s FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The approval for capital projects and purchase of equipment according to the Minister was aimed at boosting electricity supply across the country.

He said, “I presented two memos from the ministry of power for the Transmission Company of Nigeria. The first one was a variation of the sum of a contract for 132/33 KV substation at Kafanchan, Kaduna State with a KV line base extension at Jos substation, in Plateau State. This is in the sum of N132, 705, 861.42.”

The Minister said the second approval he got was for the supply of handling equipment and operational vehicles also for the Transmission Company of Nigeria at the cost of N1.3 billion.

“The second memo was for the supply of handling equipment, haulage and operational vehicles for the TCN at N1, 338, 159, 080. 88. They are heavy lifting equipment that the TCN requires for doing its work in the store and on the field while changing equipment and moving transformers and the council graciously approved,” he added.

The funding is coming at a time when the country has continued to witness frequent national grid collapses, while the TCN has been characterised with failure to transmit available generation due to lack of sufficient transmission lines and substations.