By Seun Ibiyemi
The Federal Government has commissioned four transmission substations in Kano State, adding 544MW of electricity wheeling capacity to strengthen power supply to industrial, commercial and residential areas.
The projects, executed through the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in partnership with the Kano State Government, are located at Walalambe, Kumbotso, Dakata and Dan-Agundi.
According to a statement signed by Adeola Labzy, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Power, the projects are designed to improve bulk electricity transmission, ease pressure on overloaded substations and accommodate previously unmet electricity demand across the state.
The development is expected to support manufacturing, small businesses and other economic activities by improving the infrastructure required to deliver electricity to homes, industries and commercial centres.
At Walalambe, the new substation provides 80MW of capacity through two 40MVA transformers, with six outgoing feeders serving the Tokarawa Industrial Area, Eastern Bypass, Maiduguri Road, Hadejia Road and neighbouring communities.
The Kumbotso project adds 300MVA at the 330-kilovolt (kV) level, alongside 100MVA transformers, while Dakata and Dan-Agundi each receive an additional 100MVA transformer at the 132kV level.
The combined investments are expected to strengthen the transmission network serving Kano, one of Nigeria’s major commercial and industrial centres.
One of the major outcomes of the projects is the reconnection of Lee Group, a major industrial enterprise, to the national grid after more than 30 years of operating independently of the grid.
The reconnection is expected to improve the company’s access to grid electricity and potentially support its industrial operations.
The projects also restore substantial capacity to the Dan-Agundi substation, which had suffered fire damage.
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The restoration is expected to improve electricity supply to Kano’s ancient town, the Emir’s Palace and surrounding communities.
By relieving pressure on existing substations and expanding transmission capacity, the projects are intended to provide additional room for electricity demand that existing infrastructure could not adequately accommodate.
The Federal Government described the commissioning as evidence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his commitment to repositioning the power sector as a foundation for national development.
The government said the investments reflected efforts to translate infrastructure development into economic opportunities across the country.
Improved transmission infrastructure remains important to delivering electricity from the national grid to distribution networks, industrial facilities and residential consumers.
However, the additional transmission capacity will need to be matched by adequate electricity generation and effective distribution infrastructure to translate the investments into more reliable power supply for end-users.
For Kano State, the commissioned substations are expected to strengthen electricity infrastructure, support industrial activity and improve the prospects for businesses and households dependent on a more reliable power supply.
