FG Approves N31billion for National power projects

The federal government yesterday approved contracts worth over N31billion for nine power projects across the country.

The naira component of the over N31billion contract, for the acquisition of different power transmission equipment, is about N13.752 billion, while the dollar component amounts to $115.7 million, and the euro component is pegged at three million.

After the two hour Federal Executive Council meeting, which was chaired by vice president, Namadi Sambo, in the absence of the president, the minister of state for power, Nuhu Wya, who was obviously elated by such huge approvals, boycotted the post FEC, where he was expected to explain the details of the projects to journalists.

President Goodluck Jonathan early this year gave a standing order that ministers whose projects are approved by the council must wait behind to address the State House correspondents, to avoid misinterpretation involving their ministries.

Mr. Wya, however, flouted this order, when he did not show up alongside the minister of information and communication, Dora Akunyili, and her counterpart, Labaran Maku, to address the press on the technical details involved in the huge contracts awarded his ministry. The duo laboured to read the memos without entertaining any questions from the press.

In line with the upgrade plan for transmission infrastructure, the grid company commenced the introduction of 300MVA transformers in the system, thus optimizing the efficient use of exiting stations. In view of the present suppressed load and space constraints, the TCN Plc plans to install the TWO 300MVA 330/132/33KV power transformers at Ikeja West and Akangba sub-stations, while the 100MVA units are for installations at other locations nationwide.

Others are the engineering, procurement, and construction of the 250 kilometres Benin North to Oshogbo 330kva double circuit transmission line and turnin/turnout to New Akure sub-station, and that of the 180 kilometres Kano to Katsina 330kva double circuit transmission line.

FEC approved the engineering, procurement, and construction of the 135kms Omotosho to Epe to Aja 330kva double circuit transmission line, and the two kilometres Kaduna to Mando 330kva double circuit transmission.

Mrs. Akunyili said the approvals of the project is in furtherance of government's blueprint for the power sector.