The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has commissioned major upgrades at the Ijora and Apapa Road transmission substations in Lagos, adding significant transformation capacity to strengthen bulk electricity supply to some of the state’s most important commercial and industrial areas.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremonies in Lagos on Monday, TCN Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, said the projects demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding critical electricity infrastructure and building a transmission network capable of supporting Nigeria’s growing energy demand.
At the Ijora Transmission Substation, two new 100MVA, 132/33kV power transformers were commissioned, replacing two ageing 30MVA units.
According to Abdulaziz, the intervention increased the installed transformation capacity at the Ijora substation from 90MVA to 230MVA, representing an additional 140MVA of capacity for the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) franchise area.
He said the upgrade would enable the substation to deliver increased bulk electricity to EKEDC load centres while providing additional capacity to accommodate future demand growth, reduce network constraints, enhance operational flexibility and improve the reliability of electricity supply.
“The Ijora transformer project is another clear demonstration of the Federal Government’s deliberate investment in critical electricity infrastructure, and a reaffirmation of TCN’s commitment to building a transmission network that can support Nigeria’s growing energy demand,” he said.
Abdulaziz stressed that reliable electricity remained essential to economic development, noting that industries, businesses, healthcare facilities, educational institutions and households all depended on stable power supply for optimal performance.
He said TCN would continue to rehabilitate and expand substations and transmission lines to ensure that the network had sufficient capacity to wheel bulk electricity from generation stations to distribution load centres.
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At the Apapa Road 132/33kV Transmission Substation, TCN also commissioned an extensive upgrade that increased the substation’s capacity from 60MVA to 180MVA.
The project involved the installation and energisation of two new 60MVA power transformers, as well as the deployment of modern Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS).
Abdulaziz said the additional 120MVA transformation capacity would increase the quantum of bulk electricity available to EKEDC for onward distribution to customers in Apapa Causeway, Ijora, Amukoko, Ajegunle, Apapa Wharf, Tin Can Island and other critical commercial and industrial areas.
He said the intervention would also improve the quality and reliability of electricity supply while supporting economic productivity in Lagos State and Nigeria.
The Apapa Road project was sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in partnership with TCN and executed by Takaoka Engineering Co. Ltd. under the Emergency Rehabilitation and Reinforcement of Lagos Transmission Substations project.
The grant agreement between the Federal Government and JICA was signed on November 23, 2018, while project implementation commenced in 2019 following preparatory surveys and grant mobilisation by Yachiyo Engineering Co. Ltd.
Abdulaziz described the two projects as part of TCN’s broader nationwide programme to expand transmission capacity and ensure that additional electricity generated in the country can be efficiently evacuated and delivered to distribution load centres.
He said transmission capacity must remain ahead of the generation curve, adding that TCN would continue to invest in new substations, transformer upgrades, transmission lines and advanced grid technologies.
“The significance of these projects extends beyond Ijora and Apapa. They are part of TCN’s nationwide programme to expand transmission infrastructure and ensure that every incremental megawatt generated can be efficiently evacuated and delivered to distribution load centres,” he said.
The TCN chief also highlighted the role of development partners in the expansion and modernisation of Nigeria’s transmission infrastructure.
While the Ijora transformer project was funded by the World Bank and executed by Shanghai Electric Limited, the Apapa Road upgrade was supported through a JICA grant.
He said the projects reflected the importance of strategic partnerships in accelerating infrastructure development and strengthening confidence in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
Abdulaziz commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its support for infrastructure development under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing investment in the power sector as critical to industrialisation, economic competitiveness and national development.
He also acknowledged the leadership of the Minister of Power, Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, whose strategic guidance, he said, had continued to support the delivery of critical transmission projects across the country.
The TCN managing director expressed appreciation to JICA, the World Bank, the Federal Ministry of Power, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Lagos State Government, contractors, host communities, security agencies and TCN engineers and staff for their contributions to the successful delivery of the projects.
He further appealed for additional grant support from development partners to enable TCN to undertake similar interventions across other critical sections of the national transmission network.
Abdulaziz said TCN remained committed to expanding transmission capacity, improving grid resilience and modernising the network to support Nigeria’s long-term economic and industrial aspirations.
“Today, we celebrate progress, partnership and a brighter energy future for Lagos and for Nigeria,” he said.
