FG Inaugurates Gagarawa Jigawa State Substation As TCN Unfolds New Roadmap

The Federal Government has inaugurated the 2 x 60 MVA, 132/33KV substation in Jigawa state barely twenty years after the commencement of the project.

The minister of power, Engr Sale Mamman who inaugurated the project on Saturday amidst commendation by electricity consumers in the axis who described the project as a landmark, said the completion of the project is another demonstration of the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to reposition the nation’s energy sector for maximum performance.

A statement from the Minister’s office quoted him as explaining that the project is designed to upgrade power supply to the industrial hub of the area in order to promote economic activities and increase revenue generation in Jigawa State and its environs.

“In our efforts to address challenges of the critical power infrastructure in the country, the Federal government, through the Ministry of Power has inaugurated several projects such as;
The recently commissioned 150MVA 330/132KV Kumbotso transmission Substation in Kano;
The construction of a 132/33KV Transmission Substation at Kabba, Kogi State; and
The commissioning of the132KV Katampe-National Stadium transmission line project and the new 330/132/33KV substation, New Apo, Abuja”, he stressed .

He also disclosed that the Ministry of Power has launched its Central Data Management System, which is a digital platform for electrification, planning and monitoring under the umbrella of the Nigeria Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative. The system has led the foundation for the digital transformation of power networks across the country.

This initiative, he added, is part of efforts to digitalize the Nigerian power sector using new innovative digital technologies and processes that will help address many of the key challenges that our power sector is facing today, such as Internet of Things (IoT).

The minister charged consumers of electricity to desist from tampering with electricity meters and other electrical equipment.

“This is not only on account of protecting the revenues of DisCos but also related to the safety of customers as there have been reports of consumers losing lives in the course of by-passing meters and other unwholesome attitudes”, he said.

Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State was full of gratitude to the President and the minister of power for making the project a reality after over decades of delay.

While describing the substation as a game changer for the people of the area, he said already several industries are taking advantage of the station to set up in the area.

Acting Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN Engr Abdul-Azeez Suleiman said more of the transmission infrastructure are coming onboard with the support of the minister of power.

Suleiman noted that the inauguration provided an opportunity to introduce the new roadmap of TCN, the Nigeria Electricity Grid Maintenance, Expansion and Rehabilitation Program (NEGMERP).

According to him, “This is a well
thought out Program with the objective of delivering quality bulk electricity supply to Nigerians while giving equal attention and priority to all Transmission Lines and Substation Projects across the length and breadth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and at the same time not forgetting our major business as Grid Managers which is to efficiently operate and maintain existing facilities.”