Abayomi Susan
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electricity transmission network with the commissioning of upgraded transmission infrastructure at Alausa and Lekki in Lagos State, adding a combined 272 megawatts (MW) of bulk power capacity to two major economic corridors in the state.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, commissioned the projects on Tuesday as part of the administration’s broader efforts to address critical infrastructure constraints and improve electricity supply across the country.
At the Alausa transmission station, an existing 30MVA transformer was replaced with a new 100MVA unit. The upgrade increased the station’s total capacity from 135MVA to 205MVA and raised the bulk power available to the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) by 80MW.
At Lekki, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) installed two additional 60MVA, 132/33kV power transformers, alongside nine new 33kV feeders.
The project doubled the substation’s 132/33kV capacity from 120MVA to 240MVA, representing an additional capacity of approximately 192MW.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremonies, Tegbe said the projects reflected the Federal Government’s deliberate strategy of identifying critical bottlenecks within the power sector and investing in infrastructure capable of removing such constraints.
“Identify the bottleneck. Invest in it. Remove the constraint. Unlock the capacity,” the minister said.
He linked the projects to President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to addressing infrastructure challenges that have constrained Nigeria’s economic growth, noting that the government would continue to tackle ageing equipment and stranded power capacity across the country.
The Lekki project, executed by Shanghai Electric Group Company Limited with support from the World Bank, also includes the installation of an additional 300MVA, 330/132kV transformer, which is expected to be energised in November 2026.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, said the Alausa project, also executed by Shanghai Electric Limited under a World Bank-funded initiative, would provide more stable and reliable electricity to at least 70,000 residents through IKEDC once fully energised.
According to Abdulaziz, the upgrade would further strengthen grid stability while increasing the volume of bulk electricity that can be delivered to distribution companies for onward supply to customers within their franchise areas.
He reaffirmed TCN’s commitment to developing and maintaining a robust transmission network capable of meeting Nigeria’s growing electricity demand and efficiently transporting available power to distribution load centres across the country.
Tegbe commended TCN, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), IKEDC, Shanghai Electric Group and the World Bank for their contributions to the successful delivery of the projects.
He also congratulated Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for maintaining what he described as an enabling environment for infrastructure investment and development in the state.
The Federal Government said the latest transmission upgrades form part of its continuing efforts to expand the capacity and reliability of Nigeria’s power infrastructure, with the broader objective of improving electricity supply and supporting economic activities nationwide.
