…MD: $1.661bn gotten from multi-lateral donors to reinforce the system, lines and substations
By Dwelleth Morountodun
The Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed, has tasked the media to carry out investigative journalism to unravel the misconceptions, fogs and challenges beclouding the electricity sector even as he pledged to build the capacity of members of the media to accurately and effectively report the sector.
Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, he said TCN is working round the clock to increase capacity on the grid, adding, as at today the amount that we have raised from the multi-lateral donors stood at $1.661 billion. The money is being used for reinforcing the entire system on the lines and building of new substations across the country.
While responding to Mr. John Ofikhenua, of the Nation newspaper, on his plea to build the capacity of the media, he said: “I will consult with my engineering directors and the media department to organize a comprehensive training for journalists covering the media so that the technicalities of the sector will be brought to bear in their reportage.
He said: “The engineers during the training will take you round to the control room to know how the system works, what are reactors, SCADA automation, frequency control, spinning reserve etc etc.”
On the blame game and counter accusations that have grappled the sector, he said: “Ask yourselves, how many times you have Journalists seen Distribution Companies (DISCOs) signing contract and commissioning sub-stations distribution networks?
According to him, the sustainability of the investment that TCN is putting on the grid cannot be guaranteed if there is no commensurate investment on the side of the Distribution Companies (DISCOs).
The MD averred that building transmission line takes longer time than building a distribution line, explaining that DISCOs must have to have their own network and that if you want to know whether we are doing a job here go to Cotonu or Niger Republic and you will see a marvelous distribution network there.
Mohammed, said: “The electricity that is consumed in these 2 countries about 80% to 90% comes from Nigeria, you go there and is whether their power is qualitative or not which is largely determined by the quality of lines, this is the major problem that we have in the electricity mix in Nigeria. There is need to have commensurate investment by the DISCOs in the network otherwise all these capacities and expansion that we are we are doing will amount to nothing.
“While calling on the media to deploy investigation journalism to unravel the barriers to growth in the sector, he added: “Just yesterday, we met with the stakeholders as in some other previous meetings. we sat down to take their complaints and how to resolve them.
“Now, let me say this, you people are journalists, I think that you people should go for investigative journalism. I have said that TCN does not hide anything it is doing under the table. All our procurement are advertised and if there is anything that we achieved in the last few years, is the significant level of transparency in the way we do our things.
“When we complete a sub-station, we invite you the media, during the commissioning. Now, ask yourselves, how many of these commissionings are you getting from DISCOs?
The MD, urged the media to go for investigative journalism to find out whether TCN is lying or not.”On the system collapse, he added: “From May 2017 to November 2018, I’m happy to tell you that from November 23, 2018 to May 5, 2019, TCN achieved the frequency control at 49.8 herzt and 50.2 hertz at 56% of the hertz which is the world standard, which is the best standard that Nigeria has ever achieved.
However from May 6 till date, we have been struggling at 30% because we have weak distribution networks and when the rain starts, all the networks are always collapsing and as a result becomes big issue.”