The Federal Government has inaugurated upgraded transmission substations in Ijora and Apapa, Lagos, adding a combined 208 megawatts of bulk transmission capacity to the national grid.
The projects, commissioned on Monday, are part of efforts by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address transmission constraints and infrastructure challenges affecting power supply across the country.
At Ijora, two new 100MVA transformers increased the substation’s capacity from 90MVA to 230MVA, representing an additional 112MW.
At Apapa Road, a new Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) added 96MW, replacing an outdoor transformer that had served as a temporary solution after the original facility, commissioned in 1985, was decommissioned.
Speaking at the commissioning, Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the upgrades were part of the Federal Government’s response to years of transmission constraints and infrastructure decay.
Tegbe described President Tinubu as demonstrating “fearless commitment to addressing the structural constraints that have held our economy back,” linking the investment to the administration’s ambition of building a one trillion-dollar economy.
He commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for supporting the projects and said the Ministry would continue to strengthen transmission infrastructure nationwide to bridge the gap between available generation and the capacity to evacuate power through the national grid.
In his welcome address at the Apapa transmission facility, the Managing Director/CEO of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, said the installation and energisation of two new 60MVA transformers and modern Gas Insulated Switchgear had increased the Apapa substation’s capacity from 60MVA to 180MVA.
He added that the Ijora facility now has a capacity of 230MVA.
According to Abdulaziz, the upgrades would increase the bulk power available to Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) for onward distribution to Apapa Causeway, Ijora, Amukoko, Ajegunle, Apapa Wharf, Tin Can Island and other critical commercial areas.
Abdulaziz described the projects, sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank in partnership with TCN, as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising the transmission network and improving national grid stability.
He commended the Ministry of Power, JICA, the Government of Japan, Lagos State Government and other stakeholders for their support, while appealing for additional grant assistance for other critical sections of the transmission network.
The commissioning ceremonies were attended by senior government officials and development partners, including Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hideo Suzuki, represented by his Deputy; JICA Nigeria’s Chief Representative, Ishigame Keiji; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power; the CEO of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO); directors and ministerial aides from the Federal Ministry of Power; representatives of the Lagos State Government; and officials of Eko and Ikeja electricity distribution companies.