The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has improved power supply by inaugurating a 110MVA power transformer at the Isolo 132/33kV Transmission Substation in Lagos.
This project will benefit Airport Road, Ajao Estate, Isolo Local Council, PTC, Afprint, Idi-Araba, Aswani, and Pure Hygiene.
According to TCN’s Managing Director, Abdulaziz Sule, the new transformer which was energized on December 20, 2024 has added 88MW to the substation’s capacity, total capacity now 184MW.
The new installation will enable Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) to supply more power to residential and commercial customers, improve reliability and availability in these areas.
The project is under the Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). TCN is committed to expanding the transmission grid despite the challenges of aging infrastructure, capacity constraints and limited resources.
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu said the bigger picture. Improved power supply will reduce operational challenges for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and large industries, drive economic growth, job creation and regional development especially in Lagos, the economic nerve center.
Despite these achievements, TCN is still battling with challenges, especially vandalism. Between January 9 and 14, 2025, 18 transmission towers were vandalized in Rivers, Abia and Kano states.
Routine patrols discovered damaged structures, stolen bolts and nuts and unstable towers along critical transmission lines. On January 17, vandalized underground cables in Abuja disrupted power supply to the central area.
These incidents have put a lot of pressure on TCN’s operations, hindering grid expansion and increasing financial burden of constant repairs. TCN’s spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah said community support is key to protecting transmission installations, noting that these assets are key to Nigeria’s economic development.
To combat vandalism, TCN has beefed up security, increased patrols, engaged vigilante groups and partnered with security agencies. But TCN urges Nigerians to join hands to protect these installations and not to sabotage the power sector.
The inauguration of the 110MVA power transformer is a testament to TCN’s commitment to the national grid. But sustainable progress will require a collective effort to tackle the challenges plaguing the sector.