FG to build three power sub-stations in Kaduna

As part of Federal Government's plan to improve power supply in the country, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is set to build three power transmission sub-stations in Kaduna State.

The company said the three sub-stations, which is a multi-billion Naira projects would be completed between 18 to 24 months after TCN gets titles of projects sites from the Kaduna State Government.

The General Manager, Public Affairs of TCN, Mrs. Seun Olagunju disclosed this to newsmen shortly after the company's management toured the three sites for the proposed projects in Kaduna on Thursday.

According to Mrs. Olagunju, the projects were parts of TCN's expansion to enable it be above the curve in the power sector, adding that, "we already have expansion plan and this is part of our expansion plan. We need to be above the curve.

She said: "The Managing Director of TCN has been visiting some of the state Governors because we have had issues of land in some state we had land issues of encroachment, vandalism, while some case people come claiming ownership of the land, sometimes we end up in court with legal issue, that is why we have been visiting some of the Governors to say please help us solve this one, so that our own is to put the sub stations in place".

She assured that, the transmission stations projects will commence this year, as Kaduna State Government had assured that, the issue of compensation to the land owners was ongoing and will soon be concluded.

"Already survey for the transmission lines have been done, it is just for the titles to be issued and we commence and soon we are going to advertise for these projects and hit the ground running", she assured.

Speaking on the capacity of the proposed stations, the General Manager Kaduna Transmission Centre, Engr. Abdullahi Suleiman said Kaduna State Government has given TCN 750 square metres behind Millennium City, 350 square metre at Rigasa and Kakau respectively for the project.

He said the additional transmission stations of about 540 MPA will boost power transmission with about 100 per cent of the current capacity.

Earlier, the Director General, Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS), Ibrahim Hussain said the state Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai received the news of the proposed sub-stations in Kaduna with joy, which he said was responsible for the speed at which the state government had allocated land for the projects.

He said the state government was eager to see improved power supply in the state, as inadequate power supply had shut down many industries in the state, and it believes that improved power supply will bring back many of those industries.

The DG however assured that titles will soon be issued for the allocated lands, as the government is almost done with the compensation of the land owners.

He explained further: "We are in charge of land matters in Kaduna State. If I recall precisely there was a meeting between Kaduna State Government and the TCN management where they requested for land to build additional sub stations in Kaduna State.

“The Governor directed me to immediately look for suitable sites and small technical committee was formed TCN representative as members of the committee because the site require are technical and specific and three sites where identified and we immediately engage local owners of the lands to let them know that government is needing the land for overriding public interest.

“We had meeting with district heads, local government chairmen of the areas, we did assessment in the evaluation department of KADGIS for the compensation payable to the land owner and we have processed payment of compensation and forwarded to His Excellency and any moment from now, we will pay the compensation."