The role being played by the Federal Government, The Transmission Company of Nigeria and Donor Agencies are too significant to go unnoticed; together, they are spearheading a dynamic revolution in the power sector by breaking spells and performing beyond the limits to exit the nation from the embarrassing circle of darkness; the results found on the ground are very encouraging as you will be seeing in this Part 4 serial.
Stories by Clement Ebaku, Lucy Adah, Prince Ebri, and Ibrahim Isah, from Benin, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Enugu
It has been a hectic period albeit full of sacrifices; but the exercise is worth it; since Nigerians are perpetually suspicious of government good intentions the need to undertake this assignment became irreversible; someone must leave his comfort zone and go out there to confront reality; no sacrifice is too big to make your nation great; a lot of people, media critics, civil society members and associated groups mostly read from newspapers and slap unjustifiable charges against agents of government; that’s why, although billions have been invested in attempts to “rescue” or put an end to the pandemic of blackouts, the belief is the same: that nothing is being done! It must be embarrassing for little children of two or three years old shouting “Nepaaa” whenever a seizure occurs, without warning! This becomes worse, especially when no press statements are issued to explain the causes, like they do in foreign countries!
Then, their conviction becomes real, and fear sets in; however, the arrival of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has changed all that; there is genuine hope of reversing the malaise. The old, antiquated, and obsolete equipment’s hitherto causing the headache, are being sharply replaced and new ones installed; transmission lines extended, energized, and fortified; accessories, modern, in all ramifications, purchased and added. The involvement of foreign Donor Agencies is an added fillip. But, in all, the strong determination of the transmission company officials to implement the new dream is the icing on the cake! You could see firsthand the bubbling mix of men and machine, all striving to wipe out the dreaded tale of Grid Collapse.
This may well be the turning point in the nation’s history of epileptic power supply, a testimonial of sorts! For now, let’s give you a peep into what is happening across sections of the country, before we delve into the rare contributions of Donor agencies. The total of all the activities across the country is expected to increase the Megawatts generated to around 20,000, from the current paltry 5,850 megawatts, which will amount to a tremendous boost and a giant leap towards the much-needed stability in the sector. For example, in the Lagos region alone, what was found was the addition of 15 powerful transformers comprising 150MVA, 3x100MVA units complete with accessories delivered at Akangba to boost the efficiency of the 330/132KV substation. In Abuja, the effort is to provide a 3rd 330KV corridor into the city as well as enhance “load growth” by constructing new transmission lines from Lafia to New Apo, from New Apo to Kuje, and west main in Lugbe!; there is a construction of new Tower in Katamkpe as well as the repaired and energized 132KV underground transmission cable line I in the city; in Bauchi, a brand new 300MVA plus another 150MVA has been installed complete with circuit breakers, line bays, switch boards; in Benin a 60MVA with accessories to boost output was added at the 132/3KV transmission substation.
Enugu have a new 150 MVA already installed at New Haven substation while another 28/40MVA mobile transmission installed at Umuoghara sub station; In Kano, the Hadeja- 132KV line boosted with 300MVA transformer in Kumbusto, while in Kaduna a 150 MVA transformer added in the Birnin-Kebbi substation, where fallen towers have been re-erected along the Kainji-Birnin Kebbi axis; in Port Harcourt, there is now a brand new 300MVA in place at the Alaoji substation while in Umuahia a 125 MVA transformer installed; in Oshogbo, there is a 300MVA transformer installed and another 100/125MVA in Ilorin; in Shiroro, a 63MVA has been installed at the Jebba Transmission substation while the Shiroro-Katamkpe transmission line energized to render smooth deliveries; more robust good news awaits readers; all the projects sighted and inspected are 95% completed! The engineers on sites are giving a good account of themselves; they displayed passion and exemplary commitment in the discharge of their duties.
Nowhere was anything seen such as indolence and redundancy; they gave practical examples of themselves to justify more inclusion of Nigerian engineers in the handling of major projects! Had the TCN officials carried out more sensitization and awareness campaigns, perhaps these revolutionary achievements would have been better known! And now, here comes the role played by the Donor Agencies. First, transmission projects are capital-intensive and require dependable and reliable sources of funding; and by partnering with Multilateral Agencies through loan support backed by the Federal Government, TCN can supervise joint projects through Project Monitoring Units(PMU). There is the World Bank, Agence Française de Development (AFD), African Development Bank(AFDB), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA). They are actively involved in the Transmission Company Expansion Project (NTEP), mostly in the South East, South South, and North West Regions of Nigeria.
Each of the projects is expected to introduce a Wheeling Capacity of 1,500 MW at completion; it is a very serious matter. In most cases, the focus is to change the “single circuit conductor transmission line” to “double circuit QUAD conductor with additional 1 x 330KV line Bay extension each at the existing sub stations! In New Zaria, the construction of a brand new Sub Station, complete with 2 x 150MVA,330/132KV, and 2 x 60MVA with line bays and Feeder Bays. The aim is simply to increase the “Load Growth” capacity of the old substations. It is important to state here that while new constructions are going on, the Reinforcement and Rehabilitation of existing substations are also on. For the first time in the history of the Transmission Company, real work is ongoing simultaneously nationwide. This is a confirmation of the mental strength of whoever sits in the driving seat of the Transmission Company. They are emphatically doing a service to generations of Nigerians unborn. Nevertheless, our reporter had the time to peep into the working environment inside TCN and came up with another startling revelation, which will be laid bare in the concluding Part 5 of this serial.
