FG Boosts Lagos Power Supply With 208MW Transmission Capacity

The Federal Government has expanded Nigeria’s bulk electricity transmission capacity in Lagos by 208 megawatts following the commissioning of upgraded transmission substations at Ijora and Apapa Road.

The projects, which are expected to strengthen electricity delivery to some of Lagos’ major commercial and industrial corridors, were commissioned on Monday as part of efforts to tackle longstanding transmission constraints that have limited the amount of electricity that can be evacuated from the national grid.

At Ijora, the installation of 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 another 96MW of transmission capacity, 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 projects represented part of the Federal Government’s broader response to years of inadequate transmission infrastructure and system constraints.

Tegbe said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was demonstrating what he described as a “fearless commitment to addressing the structural constraints that have held our economy back”, noting that a reliable electricity supply remained critical to the government’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.

He commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his support for the projects, stressing that the Ministry of Power would continue to strengthen transmission infrastructure across the country.

According to him, expanding transmission capacity was necessary to address the persistent gap between electricity generated and the amount that could effectively be delivered to consumers.

At the Apapa transmission facility, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer 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 tripled the facility’s capacity from 60MVA to 180MVA.

He said the upgraded Ijora substation now has a capacity of 230MVA, adding that the combined projects would increase bulk electricity available to Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) for onward distribution to several critical areas.

These include Apapa Causeway, Ijora, Amukoko, Ajegunle, Apapa Wharf and Tin Can Island, among other major commercial and industrial locations.

Abdulaziz said the projects, sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank respectively, in partnership with TCN, demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising the transmission network and improving the stability of the national grid.

He appealed for continued grant support for other critical sections of the transmission network, saying further investment was required to strengthen the system and ensure that available generation could be efficiently evacuated and delivered to consumers.

The commissioning ceremonies were attended by senior government officials, representatives of the Government of Japan and JICA, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Independent System Operator, representatives of the Lagos State Government, as well as officials of Eko and Ikeja electricity distribution companies.