The Federal Government of Nigeria has embarked on the construction of a 2×30/40MVA, 123/33kv electricity substation with six feeders in order to increase the country’s power transmission capacity for better electricity distribution. The new electricity substation is projected to increase the country’s transmission capacity to 25,000 megawatts by 2025. The current power transmission capacity of Nigeria is between 7,500 megawatts and 8,000 megawatts. The national grid has also been generating between 4,000 megawatts and 5,000 megawatts for several years.
Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jeddy-Agba, revealed in a signed statement in Abuja on February 22, 2023, that the new project was designed to improve the operation of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). The new 2×30/40MVA, 123/33kv transmission substation with six feeders is situated at Ididep, Ibiono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The minister said that the construction will be run for 18 months, beginning from the approval date. After the 18 months, the project will be delivered for operation.
FG collaborated with TCN to improve power supply.
Jeddy-Agba noted that the Federal Ministry of Power collaborated with TCN on the project for improved power supply in the country as well as to empower the national grid. He said that the new transmission project will strengthen the national grid by increasing its wheeling capacity to 25,000 megawatts by year 2025. The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom, spoke at the flag-off event. He appreciated the Federal Government for fulfilling its campaign promise to the state.
The governor assured the Federal Government of the state’s support for the actualization of the transmission project. In his remarks, the Director of Transmission, TCN, Nosike Emmanuel, enjoined the Akwa Ibom state government and citizens of the state to cooperate with the transmission company and its officials by providing needed assistance for a smooth construction process. As Nigeria struggles with access to power supply, stakeholders in the power sector insisted that lack of financing is a major issue. This project is one of many that Nigeria needs to set the industry back on track.
National grid has collapsed under Buhari about 100 times.
Despite the over N1.51 trillion intervention in the sector by the Federal Government since 2015 when the current administration came on board, the national grid has collapsed about 100 times under the regime of President Buhari. In 2022, Nigeria’s power generation capacity dropped to its lowest – below 1000 megawatts. The TCN has suggested that rehabilitation and expansion of the grid will require a total of $10 billion for ten years. Also, in terms of improving electricity access, around $34.5 billion is needed in total investments to provide electricity to all households by 2030.
A January 2023 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) highlighted some power projects currently ongoing in Nigeria. The Presidential Power Initiative with Germany’s Siemens AG for a three-phase electrification project aimed at increasing Nigeria’s power to 25,000 megawatts was highlighted. The cost of the project amounts to N1.15 trillion, which is around $3.8 billion as of 2020. This is alongside other highlighted projects, including the World Bank’s financing a $486 million International Development Association credit for the Nigerian Electricity Transmission Access Project to support the development of Nigeria’s transmission system.
Nigeria has a number of underperforming generating plants.
Our country has 23 power generating plants with 11,165MW capacity connected to the national grid. These plants are managed by generation companies (GenCos), independent power providers, and Niger Delta Holding Company. Two of these 23 plants are hydro-powered. However, the other gas-powered plants are either generating below expectations, shut down due to lack of gas or undergoing maintenance. This has made Nigeria generate less power much less distribute to every nook and cranny of the country.
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