FEC approves 16 contracts to boost electricity transmission
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved 16 contracts to boost the capacity to transmit and distribute electricity in Nigeria.
Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu disclosed this to State House correspondents after an extraordinary FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to him, the major problem in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) is the ability to evacuate and distribute sufficient electricity to consumers.
“Approval was given for the award of contract for of 2x 60 MVA 132/33KV sub-stations in Ikare-akoro and 2 by 132KV lines bay extension in Oke-agbe, Ondo State.
“It has dollar component and Naira component—$9.9million and N2.4billion; the other one is the supply of 62 hilux vehicles and 20 SUVs.
“These ones are going to used for operations, for supervision and surveillance of over 8,000 kilometre-gridlines across the nation; it is N2.7billion.
“The next is procurement of 1,500 drums of transformer oil; it is also nationwide. It is used for maintenance of transformers at the cost of N322.5million.
“The next is the supply of Sergi Transformer explosion and fire protection devices; it is also nationwide.
“It has a Euro component of €5.3million and Naira component of N347.6million.”
He said another approval was for the construction of 132 KV double-circuit line in Ikere-Ijesa-Isu-Ilupeju towns in Ado-Ekiki, Ekiti State.
According to him, the contract has a dollar component of $30.8million and a Naira component of N8.3billion.
He said that the sixth one was the construction of new National Grid Control Centres in Oshogbo.
“You know we have one national control centre where everything that is on the grid is being controlled.
“That is where power (electricity) all over the nation is being distributed from and if there is any shut down, that is where it is done in Oshogbo.
“So, we want to expand it to be able to work better; this contract seeks to do so and we want to add another one in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
“So, two contracts are given here; one in Oshogbo and one for the FCT.
“Oshogbo is at the cost of N1.168billion while that one of the FCT is N1.161billion.
“Another one is the supply of 180 grounding equipment nationwide; it has also a Euro component of €686,000 and a Naira component of N41.4million.”
He listed other approvals as 330KV double line to Mando sub-station in Kaduna at N893million; construction of 2X60MVA, 132/33KV sub-station in Ogbomosho and 2X 132KV lines extension in Ganmo sub-station, Ilorin at €5.3million and Naira component of N467.7million.
Aliyu also listed, among others, contracts for design, manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning of LOTs 1 and 2 transmission lines of 330/132/33 KV in Lekki, Lagos State at the cost of N4.3billion and N2.8billion respectively. (https://newsatlarge.ng)