By Oke Peter 

In line with the resolve of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to solving structural problems that have long constrained the power sector, the Federal Government on Monday commissioned two upgraded transmission substations in Lagos, providing an additional 208 megawatts of bulk transmission capacity to one of the country’s most economically active corridors


At Ijora, two new 100MVA transformers lifted the substation’s capacity from 90MVA to 230MVA; an additional 112MW. At Apapa Road, a new Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) added 96MW, replacing an outdoor transformer that had served as a stopgap since the original facility, commissioned in 1985, was decommissioned.

Speaking at the Commissioning, Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe said the upgrades were part of the administration’s response to years transmission constraints and infrastructure decay. He described President Tinubu as showing “fearless commitment to addressing the structural constraints that have held our economy back,” linking the upgrade to the administration’s stated goal of building a one trillion-dollar economy.


Tegbe commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for supporting the projects and said the Ministry would continue reinforcing transmission infrastructure nationwide to close the gap between available generation and the capacity to deliver it, a gap officials say has repeatedly stranded power that the grid could not evacuate.


In his welcome address at the Apapa transmission facility, the Managing Director/CEO of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, said the works had tripled the station’s capacity from 60MVA to 180MVA, increasing bulk power available for onward delivery by Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) to Apapa Causeway, Ijora, Amukoko, Ajegunle, Apapa Wharf and Tin Can Island.

The ceremonies drew senior officials, including the Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hideo Suzuki (represented by his Deputy), and JICA Nigeria’s Chief Representative, Ishigame Keiji, 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, Representative of Lagos State Government, as well as representatives of the Eko and Ikeja electricity distribution companies.