FG Commissions Upgraded Ijora, Apapa Substations, Adds 208MW Transmission Capacity in Lagos

 FG Commissions Upgraded Ijora, Apapa Substations, Adds 208MW Transmission Capacity in Lagos

The Federal Government has commissioned two upgraded transmission substations in Ijora and Apapa, Lagos, adding a combined 208 megawatts (MW) of bulk transmission capacity to the national grid.

The projects, commissioned on Monday, are part of the Federal Government’s efforts to address longstanding transmission constraints, modernise critical power infrastructure and improve electricity supply to Lagos, one of Nigeria’s major commercial and industrial hubs.

At the Ijora substation, two new 100MVA transformers increased the facility’s capacity from 90MVA to 230MVA, representing an additional 112MW.

At Apapa Road, a new Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) added 96MW of transmission capacity, replacing an outdoor transformer that had been used as a temporary solution after the original facility, commissioned in 1985, was decommissioned.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremonies, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the projects demonstrated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to tackling structural challenges that had constrained Nigeria’s power sector for years.

Tegbe described the upgrades as part of the administration’s broader economic reform agenda, noting that reliable electricity infrastructure was critical to achieving the government’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.

He commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for supporting the projects, assuring that the Ministry of Power would continue to strengthen the national transmission network and address the gap between available generation and the grid’s capacity to evacuate and distribute power.

In his welcome address at the Apapa transmission facility, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, said the installation and energisation of two new 60MVA transformers and modern Gas Insulated Switchgear had increased the Apapa substation’s capacity from 60MVA to 180MVA.

He said the Ijora facility now has a capacity of 230MVA, adding that the combined upgrades would increase the volume of bulk electricity available to Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) for onward distribution to critical areas of Lagos.

According to him, beneficiaries of the improved transmission capacity include Apapa Causeway, Ijora, Amukoko, Ajegunle, Apapa Wharf, Tin Can Island and other major commercial and industrial locations.

Abdulaziz said the projects, supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank in partnership with TCN, underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to upgrading Nigeria’s transmission infrastructure and improving the stability of the national grid.

He commended the Ministry of Power, JICA, the Government of Japan, Lagos State Government and other stakeholders for their contributions to the projects.

The TCN chief also appealed for additional grant assistance to enable the company to upgrade other critical sections of the transmission network across the country.

The commissioning ceremonies were attended by senior government officials and development partners, including Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hideo Suzuki, represented by his Deputy; JICA Nigeria’s Chief Representative, Ishigame Keiji; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power; the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO); directors and ministerial aides from the Federal Ministry of Power; representatives of the Lagos State Government; and officials of Eko and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Companies.