By Benson Daniel
The Federal Government has commissioned upgraded transmission substations at Ijora and Apapa Road in Lagos, adding a combined 208 megawatts of bulk transmission capacity to the national grid and strengthening electricity delivery to major commercial and industrial areas.
The projects, commissioned on Monday by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, are part of efforts to address longstanding transmission constraints that have limited the ability of the power system to deliver available electricity to consumers.
At the Ijora 132/33kV transmission substation, two new 100MVA transformers increased the facility’s installed capacity from 90MVA to 230MVA, providing an additional 112MW of bulk transmission capacity.
The upgrade is expected to improve electricity supply to Ijora, Costain, Oyingbo, Customs and adjoining communities within the area served by Eko Electricity Distribution Company.
At the Apapa Road transmission substation, the installation of new transformers and modern gas insulated switchgear increased the facility’s capacity from 60MVA to 180MVA, adding another 96MW of transmission capacity.
The Apapa facility, which dates back to 1985, had relied on ageing infrastructure before the latest rehabilitation. The upgrade is expected to strengthen electricity delivery to one of Lagos’ most important commercial and industrial corridors.
Speaking during the commissioning, Tegbe said the projects formed part of the Federal Government’s broader response to years of infrastructure deterioration and bottlenecks within the transmission network.
He said the focus of the investment was not simply to increase the amount of electricity generated, but to strengthen the capacity of the transmission system to move available power to areas where it is needed.
The Minister said improving the transmission network was critical to supporting economic activity, particularly in industrial centres where unreliable electricity supply can increase production costs and weaken business competitiveness.
The upgraded facilities are therefore expected to support businesses, manufacturing companies, port related activities and residential communities across parts of Lagos.
The projects also demonstrate the importance of strengthening transmission infrastructure alongside efforts to increase electricity generation. Where the transmission network lacks sufficient capacity, additional power generation cannot always translate into improved supply for consumers.
The Federal Government has consequently identified the removal of transmission bottlenecks as a key component of its efforts to improve electricity supply across the country.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria has also continued to reinforce critical transmission corridors and substations as part of efforts to improve the reliability and resilience of the national grid.
The Lagos upgrades are particularly significant because of the state’s role as Nigeria’s commercial and industrial centre. Better electricity transmission capacity could help reduce pressure on businesses that depend heavily on alternative power sources to sustain operations.
For households, improved transmission capacity could also contribute to more reliable electricity supply if generation and distribution systems are able to effectively utilise the additional capacity.
The commissioning comes as the Federal Government targets the ability to wheel 6,000MW of electricity comfortably through the national grid by December 2026, making transmission upgrades increasingly important to the country’s power sector ambitions.
The government is expected to continue investments in substations and transmission corridors across the country as it seeks to close the gap between electricity generation and the amount of power that can be reliably delivered to consumers.
Leave a comment