"Completion is set": TCN Announces Date Nigerians Will Enjoy Improved Electricity Supply

"Completion is set": TCN Announces Date Nigerians Will Enjoy Improved Electricity Supply

  • The TCN has said that its ongoing power project will be completed by May 2024
  • The project is expected to bring out improved electricity supply in the country
  • The TCN stated that the project was never abandoned, as insinuated by many

Legit.ng journalist Zainab Iwayemi has over three years of experience covering the Economy, Technology, and Capital Market.

The fifty-three (53) ongoing power projects funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) power intervention fund will be completed by May 2024, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced.

TCN gives date Nigerians will enjoy improved electricity supply
The programme coordinator said the project will improve the ability to transport electricity by over 1,000 megawatts upon completion. Photo Credit: CBN, Vadym Terelyuk
Source: Getty Images

Matthew Ajibade, the TCN programme coordinator in charge of the initiative, made this known during a tour of three projects located at Ojo, Isolo, and Oworonshoki transmission stations in Lagos on Wednesday 6 December.

According to Ajibade, the project will improve the ability to transport electricity by over 1,000 megawatts upon completion.

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It noted:

“The projects are currently being implemented through the project management office at the TCN headquarters in collaboration with both TCN field engineers and the Discos technical team.
“The time set for completion of the projects is May 2024 at the latest. PMO made progress with the implementation of the programme despite challenges encountered and is committed to ensuring the successful implementation.”

Project not abandoned

According to Punch, Ajibade clarified that the project was not abandoned, as some people speculated. He said work on the project is ongoing and will be delivered as expected.

According to Tumba Tijani, the assistant director and head of CBN's infrastructure finance division, the project's financing from the apex bank was made available at a 9% interest rate in August of last year.

The CBN, he said, authorised the payment of N122 million for the Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilization Facility-3 program, continuing its intervention in the power sector. He explained that the sum was predicated on an estimate for the identified projects.

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He said the plant will increase end-user supply and eliminate transmission and distribution interface bottlenecks.

He further explained that this would release the nation's underutilised power capacity.

Tijani also disclosed that the sum of N85 billion so far has been disbursed to 53 contractors for the execution of the project.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian government and Germany officially entered into the Presidential Power Initiative agreement, a significant step toward enhancing electricity provision in Nigeria.

Ex-power minister Barth Nnaji speaks on cabal benefitting from poor electricity supply in Nigeria

Legit.ng also reported that Barth Nnaji, a former minister of Power, alleged fuel suppliers and generator sellers were sabotaging efforts to ensure Nigerians have consistent access to power.

The professor claimed while participating in "The South East Political Roundtable" on Flo FM in Umuahia, Abia State.

According to the former minister, the ongoing failure of the national grid remained a significant source of concern for Nigerians.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Zainab Iwayemi avatar

Zainab Iwayemi (Business Editor) Zainab Iwayemi is a business journalist with over 5 years experience reporting activities in the stock market, tech, insurance, banking, and oil and gas sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Science (B.sc) degree in Sociology from the University of Ilorin, Kwara State. Before Legit.ng, she worked as a financial analyst at Nairametrics where she was rewarded for outstanding performance. She can be reached via zainab.iwayemi@corp.legit.ng