The Federal Government has added 640 megawatts (MW) of transmission capacity to the national grid following the commissioning of six power substations in Kano and Katsina states, in a move aimed at strengthening electricity transmission and improving power supply reliability.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) commissioned four transmission substations at Walalambe, Kumbotso, Dakata and Dan-Agundi in Kano State on Wednesday, adding 544MW of wheeling capacity to the state’s electricity network and the national grid.
On Friday, the government commissioned two new 60MVA, 132/33kV transmission substations in Kankia Local Government Area of Katsina State, adding another 96MW of transmission capacity. The projects bring the total additional capacity commissioned across the two states within the week to 640MW.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Katsina, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with supporting reforms and investments aimed at strengthening the country’s power sector. He said the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda recognised the importance of dependable infrastructure to economic growth, business expansion and job creation.
Tegbe said the new Kankia facility would strengthen the transmission network’s capacity to distribute available electricity across Katsina State and neighbouring areas, with potential benefits for businesses, households and other electricity consumers. He also urged residents to protect the infrastructure and report suspicious activities to TCN or relevant security agencies.
Katsina State Governor, Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda, described the project as a landmark investment in the state’s power infrastructure, saying a steady and reliable electricity supply could support economic growth, industrial development and improved public service delivery. He thanked President Tinubu for approving the project and commended the Federal Ministry of Power and TCN for their roles in its delivery.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by officials of the Federal Ministry of Power, TCN, the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) and members of the Katsina State Executive Council. The additional transmission capacity marks an infrastructure milestone, although its impact on electricity supply to consumers will also depend on power generation, distribution network capacity and other operational factors.