March 28, 2024

FG approves funds for construction of Lafia-Abuja, Osogbo-Benin, Osun-Ondo transmission lines

Osaze Isesele

 The residents of Abuja, Benin, Ondo and Osogbo are about to witness improved electricity from the grid system, as the Federal  Government has approved funds for the construction of three transmission lines by  Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)  linking Lafia- Abuja, Benin, Oshogbo and Akure in Edo, Osun and Ondo States.

This was confirmed by Jeddy Agba, Minister of state for power, against the backdrop of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) weekly meeting held on Wednesday. 

According to him, the FEC approved three major contracts aimed at enhancing the performance of the national grid with the view to improving power supply.
 EnergyDay gathered that one of the transmission lines was the 133KVA transmission line to connecting Abuja from 133 KVA substation project in Lafia, Nasarawa State, which was built and energised  by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Ltd, in 2021.
This particular line from the substation is essentially meant to step down electricity from the high voltage to a lower voltage level where the distribution company (Abuja Disco) can draw electricity and serve its customers.

The Minister of state for power said Council approved three major contracts aimed at enhancing the performance of the national grid with the view to improving power supply.

He said, “You will agree with me that of late we’ve had grid collapses, resulting in epileptic power supply in most parts of the country. There’s definitely been the need for us to reinvigorate our national grid so as to sustain and provide electricity to majority members of our country and the communities around us.

“To that effect, FEC today approved three major contracts aimed at enhancing the performance of the national grid with the view to improving power supply. One of the lines is the one linking Benin, Oshogbo and Akure in Edo, Osun and Ondo States.

“So in the three states, the grid in that area has been weak for some time, but with this approval of today’s contract, we are  swinging into action and certainly, very shortly, we would have improvements on the grid  in that area.

“Also the 133 KVA in Akwanga and Lafia in Nasarawa State, has also been improved  that also  helps to strengthen the line to Abuja through those two states and the states further, Plateau and Benue States would have improved electrical supply, following those strengthening,” the Jeddy Agba noted.

The Minister for Power however noted that frequent grid collapse will be addressed by the government if the system is properly enhanced.

He noted that with FEC’s approval of these projects the grid is likely to deliver a minimum of 4,500 Megawatts of power daily.