Residents of Nasarawa State in Central Nigeria will, for the first time, enjoy electricity after 25 years of its creation.
This is because the Niger Delta Power Holding Company has completed the 330/132/3kV, 2x150MVA and 2x60MVA transmission sub-station located in Lafia, capital of Nasarawa State.
It will be the first time that the state capital, Lafia, and its environments, would be connected to the national grid since its creation on October 1, 1996.
Nasarawa State is made up of thirteen Local Government Areas, namely, Akwanga, Awe, Doma, Karu, Keana, Kokona, Lafia, Nasarawa, Nasarawa Eggon, Obi, Toto, Wamba and Keffi.
The Executive Director for Networks at the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC), Engr. Ife Oluwa Oyedele, who led a team from the company on a pre-commissioning inspection visit to Akubra, Lafia, where the station is located, said when energized, residents of Lafia and its environs would experience both social and economic boom as electricity supply would get a big boost.
“The project will enhance uninterrupted power supply. Before now, even the Government House, Lafia, could not run on electricity from the distribution network because the 33kV line that comes from Akwanga is grossly inadequate to power the state capital and its environs.
“Fortunately, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has already awarded the necessary distribution contracts that will ensure that as soon as the transmission sub-station is commissioned, the whole area would be lit.”
While describing the construction as a ‘landmark project’ for the Buhari administration, Eng Oyedele said the project was being completed in record time.
“The project has tremendous local content built into it as most of the technicians and engineers who did the construction were Nigerians, thereby, increasing local capacity.
“Many factories including heavy industries, are now springing up in Nassarawa State in anticipation of the commissioning of the transmission sub-station as they now rest assured of an adequate supply of electricity.
“What we have been watching on television and hearing about happening in other places is what we are now witnessing in our community too,” an excited Ibrahim Mohammed, youth leader of the Akubra community in Lafia, the location of the project, told reporters.
He disclosed that the youth in the community have ensured that no harm went near any of the workers at the site and that no incidence of theft was recorded.
“The youth will now become gainfully employed with an adequate supply of electricity,” he noted.
The Prince of the community, Ahmed Uba said, “We give God the glory. Most youth that is presently jobless will now be gainfully employed as welders, barbers and other small and medium businesses will now begin to thrive.”
The Deputy Managing Director of AK-AY Elektrik, the contractor handling the project, Dr Mohammed Gumi, who thanked NDPHC for the confidence reposed in them, gave the assurance that the project would be ready for commissioning within the next few weeks when connected to the national grid, through the line-in, line-out would have been completed.
The transmission sub-station can deliver and meet 240MW of load demand.
It will also help to provide back feed to FCT whenever necessary since FCT is being served from Shiroro and Geregu power stations.
The transmission substation is one out of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) aimed at improving the transmission of electricity nationwide.