FEC Approves Power Projects To Improve Power Supply

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved projects to improve the country’s power supply.

Abubakar Aliyu, Minister of Power, briefed State House correspondents on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

According to Aliyu, the projects are aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and bolstering the country’s power supply.

“I presented two memos to council today, both of which council approved; the first memo council approved the award of contract for design, supply, and installation of 1x60MBA, 13233 KV transmission substation with associated 4132 KV line bay extension at Hong local government and Adamawa in the sum of N6.5 billion, which consists of two components, one offshore and one onshore.” At the current CBN exchange rate and 7.5 percent VAT, the offshore is 6.9 million dollars and the onshore is N3.3 billion; the delivery period is 24 months.

“This seeks to increase supply capacity in that area, and it will affect so many towns and villages; there is a very important local government headquarters in that area.”

“It will affect Song, a local government headquarters in Adamawa state; Gombi, another local government headquarters; Garkida town, and finally Hong.”

“Then there’s Mudi, Woba, Michika, and Madagari.” There is an existing 132 that runs through this area, so we’re putting a substation there now.

“The hope is that by the time all of these interventions we’re making on the grid reach 11,000 or so, it will be able to withstand and take it off; thus, this is the intervention.”

The second memo, according to the minister, was to purchase power transformers and associated spare parts for TCN deployment in six locations.

“One is to Aiyede in Oyo; the offshore component is 1.8 billion dollars, while the onshore component is N98 million.”

‘The second is Gusau in Zamfara; the third is Kankia in Katsina state; the fourth is Minna in Niger; and the fifth is Okearo in Ogun.’

“The sixth one is in Damaturu, Yobe; this one is very unusual because, as you may be aware, Maiduguri has been without full power for over a year.”

“We were able to take electricity supply via an old 33 KV line that we repaired and restored, and we were able to take 10 megawatts to Maiduguri over 130 kilometres on a 33 single circuit.”

“We restored that around three to four months ago or so; so they are enjoying but only a small amount; by the time the electricity reaches Maiduguri, it will have dropped to six or seven megawatts due to losses along the way.”

Insurgents vandalised the 330 taking power to Maiduguri, according to Aliyu.

He claimed that the ministry tried several times to restore it, but the insurgents would return and tear down the towers.

“So, in the main time, we decided to take the electricity through the 33 KVA, which they are enjoying but not as much as they would like.” It is being rationed at this time.

“As a result, we are currently acquiring another 33 new double circuits to Maiduguri along the same route.”

“So the idea is that if someone tampers with it, it’s easy to restore it within a day or two, as opposed to the larger one, which takes weeks or months to restore because it’s in the bush.”

“So, as it is now, even the one that we have installed, we have been playing hide and seek; sometimes they will pull one or two poles, we will repair, and this is why we are doing this by the roadside; it is this to keep on restoring back.”

He stated that the contractor has returned to restore the main line, 330, which was vandalised some time ago.

The minister stated that the project would increase the capacity of the Damaturu substation in order to provide enough electricity for Damaturu and its environs, as well as to transport some to Maiduguri.

“So, the sixth one costs 6.7 million dollars, while the local component for the Damaturu upgrade injection transformer costs N1.3 billion.”

“So, the total approved for these is $22.6 million in dollars and N5.1 billion in nairas, and the council graciously approved the two memos,” he said.

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