The Federal Government through the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has commissioned 330/132/33kV power substation in Damaturu to enhance transmission capacity in Yobe state.
The Project was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Suleiman Zarma, on Wednesday in Damaturu.
The minister said the giant stride taken by Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), to complete the 13-year-old project would expand the power capacity and make electricity readily available for business to thrive in the state.
He said the substation project started in 2006 but due to non-performance and delay in implementation by the contracted company, the TCN took over and completed the contract in August, 2018.
Zarma said that, in September 2018, all the installations were carried out at the substation and the 150MVA, 330/132/33KV transformer, 75MVAR reactor were energised on September 13, 2018.
“While the 60MVA, 120/33KV transformer was put to service on October 3, 2018. Thereby enabling supply access to the three outgoing Feeders: Buni Yadi feeder 1, Damaturu feeder 2 and Babban Gida feeder 3”.
He said the substation supply would benefit Ngelzarma, Gaidam, Dapchi, Yadi and Damaturu Township.
The Managing Director of the TCN, Usman Gur Mohammed, said the power capacity was enhanced to boost economic activities in Yobe and northeast.
“There is direct relationship between electricity and economy. We also belief that, for us to solve the problem of restiveness and insecurity we must supply electricity efficiently. That was the mandate given to us by Mr President, ” he said.
Gur also explained that the northeast have only 330kV substation in the past but, with the two that were commissioned in Damaturu and Maiduguri, 100 percent of succession has been added in the zone.
The Deputy governor of Yobe State, Engr Abubakar Ali, commended the minister for sparing time to commission the project and the TCN for the timely completion of the project.
