10 years later, TCN, Jos DisCo, Plateau govt. settle Right of Way issue, set to complete 132kV Makeri to Pankshin transmission line in 3 months
Oredola Adeola
After almost ten(10) years of delay, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), and the Plateau State Government have agreed on the Right of Way (RoW) issues that have delayed the completion of 132kV Makeri to Pankshin transmission line between Bauchi and Plateau states.
This was the major highlight of the meeting held between the management team from the TCN led by the General Manager of Engineering, Engr. Shehu Abba-Aliyu visited the Governor of Plateau State, Governor Simon Lalong, CON, in the Governor’s Office in Jos at the weekend.
According to the statement obtained by EnergyDay from Dr. Makut Macham, Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State and TCN’s media, the meeting was centered on the resumption of the Pankshin 132kV transmission line project which had been stalled for 10 years due to Right of Way, and RoW issues.
TCN however confirmed that following the intervention of the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, the contractor handling the project would mobilise back to the site to continue and complete the project.
EnergyDay’s check showed that the 132kV Makeri to Pankshin transmission line between Bauchi and Plateau is part of the five(5) projects being funded through a TCN–DisCo Service Level Agreement (SLA) strategy financed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The 132 kV line to Pankshin, 2×40 MVA, has also stalled the delivery of the 132/33 kV transmission station to service the entire Central and Southern parts of Plateau, covering 14 out of the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
Governor Simon Lalong, in his address during the meeting, disclosed that in the next three months, the citizens in 14 Local Governments in the Central and Southern Senatorial Districts of the state, who have been without power for many years are set to begin enjoying power supply.
The Governor said the Stringing of the Makeri-Guratop-Pankshin 132 KVA Line which will supply power to the Central and Southern parts of Plateau, as well as parts of Taraba and Bauchi States is a major project that will change the lives of the people and promote industrialization and economic prosperity.
He recalled how he made efforts together with the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Idris Wase to ensure that the Federal Government revisits the project which is of enormous economic and security benefit to the people, particularly at the grassroots
The Governor also commended President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Power, and the MD TCN for their efforts, while also assuring the contractor of the commitment of his administration to providing all the support needed to ensure that the work is completed within schedule.
He also appreciated the communities along the corridor who cooperated with the Government to settle their grievances out of court which enabled matters relating to the Right of Way to be settled once and for all.
Governor Lalong further said that the Government will work with the security and traditional rulers as well as community leaders to safeguard the TCN’s equipment and personnel working on the project.
Engr. Shehu Aliyu, GM Engineering Transmission, in a statement commending the Governor said that the team was in the state based on the directive of the Minister of Power to ensure that the contractor commences work with the mandate to complete it within 3 months.
He praised Governor Lalong for stepping in and taking bold decisions that led to the settlement of the 5-year-old legal battle with communities and property owners within the Right of Way.
Aliyu also said the materials for the completion have been imported, funding provided, and variation issues considered for the completion of the project. He also expressed fear over the threat of vandalism which had affected the existing infrastructure.
Unresolved issues of Right of Way(RoW) have stalled major TCN projects across the country, besides other challenges such as funds and insurgency delaying major grid expansion plans.
