By Constance Athekame
Katsina, Oct.24,2026 The Minister of Power, Engr. Joseph Tegbe, has inagurated five transmission substation projects in Kano and Katsina States and also inspected the ongoing GIS substation.
The Inaguration and the inspection of the projects took place in Kano and Katsina on Thursday, 22nd and Friday.
The projects added a total of 240 Megawatts (MW) at 330 Kilo Volt (kV) level and 376MW at the 132kV level to the nation’s transmission network, boosting bulk power supply in the North East axis.
In Katsina, the minister inagurated two 60 Megawatts power transformers at the Kankia transmission substation, increasing its installed capacity by 150 per cent, performed.
He also did the groundbreaking ceremony for a new 120 MegaVolt Ampree (MVA) transmission substation comprising two 60MVA transformers, and also inspected ongoing works at the new 200MVA GIS substation at the 330kV Katsina Substation.
Speaking during the projects Inaguration at Kankia Substation, Tegbe said the installation of the two 60MVA, power transformers increased the substation’s installed capacity from 60MVA to 150MVA, equivalent to 120MW substations capacity.
He noted that the projects are a testament to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the determination to reset the power sector as a foundation for national development.
While performing the groundbreaking ceremony for the 120MVA transmission substation, at Mashi the minister noted that upon completion, the project will provide additional 120MVA, equivalent to 96MW, to strengthen supply to Mashi and neighbouring communities.
Tegbe explained that issues associated with wayleave and compensation for Project Affected Persons (PAPs) have been resolved, adding that the groundbreaking signifies the official commencement of construction works.
“Today, we break ground in Mashi with a clear purpose, which is to build electricity infrastructure that supports livelihoods and gives this community greater room to grow,” he said.
While acknowledging the World Bank for projects funding, the minister noted that the Katsina projects were delivered by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Power and Transmission Company of Nigeria.
He said the projects were put in place with the aim of strengthening electricity transmission infrastructure and improving bulk power supply across Katsina State.
Speaking on the projects, the Managing Director of TCN Engr. Sule Abdulaziz, said that the new projects added new capacities to the transmission network.
Abdulaziz said that the projects would address capacity limitations, noting that the works also involved modernisation of the control room to digital control and protection panels, expansion of the 33kV busbar and installation of additional outgoing feeders.
”The 96MW Mashi project will further “strengthen bulk power delivery to Mashi and neighboring communities, improve voltage performance, and provide room to accommodate future growth in electricity demand, ”he said.
Abdulaziz noted that as the transmission service provider, TCN remains committed to developing and maintaining the transmission infrastructure required to convey bulk electricity to distribution companies for onward delivery to consumers.
. “We will continue to work with NISO, KEDCO and other stakeholders to ensure a more reliable and efficient electricity supply chain”, he said.
Earlier in Kano on Thursday, Tegbe inagurated the new Walalambe, transmission substation comprising two units of 40MVA, transformers.
At Kumbotso substation, new 300MVA and 100MVA, power transformers were inagurated by the minister, while one number 100 power transformers were also inagurated in Dakata substation as well as in Dan Agundi Substation respectively.
According to him, the task before the Ministry of Power is to provide infrastructure that allows enterprise to flourish. “
”With these projects just inaugurated, the Federal Government has opened a new route for bulk electricity to reach the industrial and commercial corridors where investment, production and employment depend on it.
” This is significant for the communities and for the wider Kano electricity network as it creates a new supply point and relieves pressure on existing facilities,” he said.
The minister also highlighted the provision of a dedicated 33kV feeder to Lee Group of Companies, which had operated off-grid for more than 30 years.
He said connecting the company to the national grid demonstrated the importance of transmission infrastructure in supporting industrial development.
He said that he had directed the ministry of power to prioritise the development of three energy zones to promote balanced electricity supply across the country.
He however pledged to work with the Kano State Government and relevant power sector stakeholders to harmonise interventions to avoid duplication.
He commended TCN and the World Bank for their contributions and appealed to host communities to protect the facilities from vandalism.
“Please help us protect this infrastructure and ensure our vigilance is stronger than ever, to fight the challenge of infrastructure vandalism across the country,” he said.
Tegbe said that the Kano projects has further strengthened bulk electricity supply to Kano’s industrial, commercial and residential areas by relieving overloaded substations and creating room to meet previously suppressed demand.
The present administration, he said is undertaking several power projects to boost electricity supply to ensure that every Nigerian has access to electricity and assured that the government will continue to do all that is required to make this possible.
The managing director of TCN said that the projects inagurated, reflected the company’s commitment to further expand the nation’s transmission network and noted that similar completed and ongoing projects are distributed nationwide.
“Across the six geopolitical zones, TCN will continue to pursue the expansion of transmission infrastructure, the rehabilitation of existing facilities and the modernisation of critical equipment.
These efforts are directed at strengthening the national transmission network and supporting the Federal Government’s power sector development objectives under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
He also appealed to communities to protect national assets, respect transmission Right-of-Way corridors and report suspicious activities.