The Federal Government has commissioned a new 1x100MVA, 132/33kV power transformer at the Alausa Transmission Substation in Lagos State, increasing the facility’s total installed capacity from 135MVA to 205MVA.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, who commissioned the transformer on Tuesday, said the project was part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen Nigeria’s transmission infrastructure and address electricity supply constraints in major economic centres.
Tegbe said the upgrade would increase the quantum of bulk power available to the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) by 80MW for onward distribution to consumers within its franchise area.
He described Alausa as one of Lagos State’s most economically and administratively important areas, noting that it hosts government institutions, commercial establishments, businesses, residential communities and other economic activities that depend on reliable electricity supply.
According to him, strengthening electricity infrastructure in the area would support businesses, industries, hospitals, schools, offices, markets, technology companies, artisans and other enterprises.
The minister explained that the Alausa 132/33kV Transmission Substation previously operated with one 60MVA transformer, one 45MVA transformer and one 30MVA transformer, providing a combined installed capacity of 135MVA, equivalent to approximately 108MW.
He said the replacement of the existing 30MVA transformer with the new 100MVA unit had increased the substation’s total installed capacity to 205MVA, equivalent to approximately 164MW.
“More importantly, it has increased the quantum of bulk power available to IKEDC by 80MW for onward delivery to consumers within its franchise area,” Tegbe said.
The minister said the additional capacity represented more than a technical achievement, stressing that increased electricity availability would have a multiplier effect on businesses, industries and livelihoods.
He said the commissioning formed part of a broader Federal Government programme to strengthen transmission infrastructure across the country.
“Our approach is therefore deliberate: identify the bottleneck, invest in it, remove the constraint and unlock the capacity,” he said.
Tegbe said the government would continue to strengthen transmission infrastructure in areas where it constrains available power, expand substations requiring additional capacity, rehabilitate or replace ageing equipment and prioritise investments in locations experiencing growing industrial and commercial demand.
He commended the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for executing the capacity upgrade and acknowledged the contribution of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) towards the coordinated, secure and efficient operation of the electricity system.
He also urged IKEDC to translate the additional bulk power capacity into improved electricity services for consumers.
The minister commended Shanghai Electric Group Company Limited, which executed the project, as well as the World Bank and other technical and development partners for their contributions.
He also praised the Lagos State Government, particularly Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for creating an enabling environment for infrastructure development and investment.
Tegbe assured Nigerians that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would continue to invest in critical infrastructure across the electricity value chain.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, said the project demonstrated the company’s commitment to strengthening and expanding Nigeria’s transmission network.
Abdulaziz said the new transformer replaced the existing 1x30MVA, 132/33kV transformer, increasing the capacity at the affected transformer position by 70MVA and raising the overall substation capacity from 135MVA to 205MVA.
He said the project was executed by Shanghai Electric Ltd under a World Bank-funded initiative that commenced in January 2021.
According to him, the project encountered implementation challenges but was eventually delivered through TCN’s determination to provide critical transmission infrastructure.
Abdulaziz said that upon energisation, the transformer would provide more stable and reliable electricity to at least 70,000 residents in Alausa and its environs through IKEDC.
He added that the upgrade would increase the quantum of bulk power TCN could wheel to distribution load centres, thereby supporting grid stability and improving electricity delivery to consumers.
“Beyond serving the immediate community, this upgrade meaningfully increases the quantum of bulk power that TCN can wheel to distribution load centres nationwide,” he said.
The TCN chief said the project aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reflected the Federal Government’s efforts to make systematic progress in the power sector.
He expressed appreciation to the President, the Minister of Power, the World Bank, Lagos State Government, contractors, engineers and other stakeholders who contributed to the completion of the project.
At the ceremony, Tegbe formally commissioned the 1x100MVA, 132/33kV power transformer and its associated facilities on behalf of President Tinubu and the Federal Government.
The project is part of a series of transmission infrastructure upgrades being undertaken across the country to increase wheeling capacity, strengthen grid stability and improve the availability of bulk electricity to distribution companies.
