The Minister of Power, Engr. Joseph Olasukanmi Tegbe, has commissioned transmission projects in Kano and Katsina States that added 616MW of bulk electricity capacity to Nigeria’s power network.
The projects, commissioned on 22 and 23 October 2026, comprise a new transmission substation and six transformer installations that contributed 240MW at the 330kV level and 376MW at the 132kV level to the national transmission system.
In Katsina State, the minister commissioned two 60MVA power transformers at the Kankia Transmission Substation, increasing the facility’s installed capacity from 60MVA to 150MVA, equivalent to about 120MW.
He also performed the groundbreaking ceremony for a new 120MVA transmission substation in Mashi and inspected ongoing work at a 200MVA Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substation in Katsina.
Speaking at the commissioning in Kankia, Tegbe said the projects demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening electricity infrastructure and expanding access to reliable power.
He said the Mashi substation, when completed, would add 120MVA, equivalent to about 96MW, and improve electricity supply to Mashi and surrounding communities.
According to the minister, challenges relating to wayleave issues and compensation for Project Affected Persons had been resolved, paving the way for construction to commence.
Tegbe noted that the Katsina projects were executed by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Power and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), with funding support from the World Bank, to improve bulk power delivery across the state.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Engr. Sule Abdulaziz, said the projects expanded transmission capacity and addressed existing network limitations.
He added that the works included the modernisation of control rooms with digital protection systems, expansion of 33kV busbars and installation of additional outgoing feeders.
Earlier in Kano State, the minister commissioned the new Walalambe Transmission Substation equipped with two 40MVA transformers. He also inaugurated a 300MVA transformer and a 100MVA transformer at Kumbotso Transmission Substation, as well as separate 100MVA transformers at Dakata and Dan Agundi substations.
Tegbe said the projects would improve bulk electricity supply to Kano’s industrial, commercial and residential areas by easing pressure on existing substations and meeting growing demand.
He highlighted the provision of a dedicated 33kV feeder to Lee Group of Companies, which had operated independently of the national grid for more than three decades, describing the connection as evidence of the role of transmission infrastructure in supporting industrial growth.
The minister also disclosed plans to prioritise the development of three energy zones across the country to promote more balanced electricity supply and pledged collaboration with state governments and other industry stakeholders to coordinate interventions.
He commended TCN and the World Bank for their contributions to the projects and urged host communities to protect power infrastructure from vandalism.
Abdulaziz said the commissioned projects reflected TCN’s commitment to expanding and modernising the nation’s transmission network, noting that similar projects were underway across the six geopolitical zones.
He said the company would continue investing in transmission expansion, rehabilitation of existing facilities and modernisation of critical equipment to support the Federal Government’s power sector development objectives.
