President Mohammadu Buhari's Achievement in Power Sector



There is always a controversy on the experience of the citizenry from the inadequate power supply, this controversy gave birth to a specific slogan any time there is power input for consumption in our home and sometimes at school, it's called "Up Nepa!" you will have to holla "Up Nepa" in a very loud voice that disrupt any on going activity at that moment, it is almost becoming a norm in many houses before the President Buhari administration came in 2015. However, as he appointed Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN as the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, there begins the Intervention in Nigeria's Power supply. So, I will start by mentioning and explaining the achievements of President Mohammadu Buhari in Power Sector since the inception of his administration till date.


On the 22nd of May 1999, the amount of power on the grid was 2,345 Mw out of which 85% was gas fired power and 15% was hydro power, however, with respect to Power sector, the Ministry of Power have improved even more than what the President Buhari’s administration met, by increasing generation from 4000 MW to 7000 MW, transmission from 5000 MW to 7000 MW and distribution from 2690 MW to 5,222 MW. The improvement which is also an achievement in power is obviously not finished, and they are still in the process of delivering additional Generation from;

I. Kaduna 215MW
II. Afam IV 240MW
III. Kashimbilla 40MW
IV. Gurara 30MW
V. Dadinkowa 29MW
VI. Power for 9 federal universities
VII. 15 markets
VIII. Two big Hydro power plants of 700MW in Zungeru
IX. And 3,050MW in Mambilla.


I can’t be writing this piece on President Buhari’s achievements in Power sector and I will not commend the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), for their interventions in Nigeria’s electricity that are being undertaken across the country. Transmission Substation from 90 projects nationwide.

The list of the TCN’s completed projects amongst several other projects so far, is as part of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Incremental Power vision, because we simply do not have enough that Nigerians want, and President Buhari’s administration is aim and determine towards uninterrupted power supply through conservation, elimination of waste and use of technology.

Below is projects, by expanding the capacity of Transmission Sub-Stations, have helped deliver additional power to the National Grid.

1. 40MVA of Additional Transformer Capacity in Zaria, Kaduna
2. 100MVA in Apo, Abuja
3. 100MVA in Katampe, FCT
4. 60MVA in Uyo, Akwa Ibom
5. 150MVA in Afam, Rivers State
6. 120MVA in Kukwaba, FCT
7. 60MVA in Oji River, Enugu
8. 80MVA in Benin South
9. 100MVA in Alimosho, Lagos
10. 60MVA of additional Transformer Capacity in Funtua, Katsina State
11. 60MVA in Ajah, Lagos
12. 100MVA in Ejigbo, Lagos
13. 28MVA in Mayo Belwa, Adamawa
14. 60MVA in Hadejia, Jigawa
15. 60MVA in Keffi, Nasarawa
16. Honourable Minister Babatunde Fashola commissioned the new 2X60MVA, 132/33KV in Odogunyan Transmission Substation at Ikorodu, Lagos State on Monday 7th May 2018.
17. I was at the commissioning of the 2.5MVA, 33/11kv Injection Substation Yola town before the 27th Meeting with Operators in the Power Sector hosted by the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) at the TCN Transmission Station along Numan Road, Jimeta, Adamawa State on Monday, 14th May 2018.
18. HM Babatunde Fashola visited the historic city of Zaria to commission the 60MVA Transformer added to the Zaria 132 KV substation to increase the transformer capacity from 140 MVA to 200 MVA.
19. HM Babatunde Fashola visited the Power House 132 KV Transmission Substation in Kaduna, he commissioned the 2 X 60 MVA Transformers to increase the transformer capacity from 190 MVA to 240 MVA.
20. HM Babatunde Fashola commissioned the 150MVA, 330/132kv Transformer at the Mando Transmission station and 2X60MVA, 132/33KV Transformer at Power station Kakuri, Kaduna state on Monday 11th June 2018.
21. HM Babatunde Fashola commissioned 2X7.5MVA, 33KV Injection Substation built by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) at the 23rd Monthly Meeting of the Hon. Minister with Operators in the Power Sector hosted by the Nasarawa State Government in Maraba Akunza, Makurdi Road, Lafia, on Monday 8th January 2018.
22. HM Babatunde Fashola commissioned 1x60MVA, 132/33KV Power Transformer built by the TCN as part of its Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Strategy under the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP) at the Keffi Transmission Substation Keffi, Nasarawa state.
23. HM Babatunde Fashola commissioned the New 2x15MVA 33/11KV Injection substation at Asaba Mains in Delta State on Monday 13th, November 2017.
24. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) completed a 30/40MVA 132/33kV transmission substation project in Wudil, Kano State.
25. The TCN Completed a brand new 60MVA 132/33kV power transformer in Akure Transmission Substation in Ondo State. The transformers have been energized and are supplying the communities where they are located and their environs.

According to the Managing Director of the TCN, Mr Usman Mohammed, on Friday 7, 2018 disclosed that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has signed a $170 million (about N61.880 billion) contract to build four transmission substations in Abuja under the Abuja Transmission Project being financed by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). He explained further that TCN also saved $25 million (about N9.1bn) during the procurement process by using global best practice and engaging world class Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractors like General Electric (GE). He said the $25m will be used to build a 330KV transmission substation in Bauchi. During my research I learnt that General Electric will handle the 330KV substation in Lugbe and Apo under the Abuja Transmission Project and were ready to commence work on the identified site immediately the contracts were signed.

Still on the President Buhari’s achievment on power, the Transmission Company of Nigeria had completed and energised the new 330/132kV transmission substation in Damaturu, Yobe State. The contract for the substation was awarded to a local contractor in 2006 with the normal completion period of 18 months, but due to poor capacity, the project suffered unprecedented delay and variations in cost. Perhaps, the new substation, which comprises 150MVA 330/132kV and 60MVA 132/33kV power transformers, was expected to greatly improve the quantity and quality of electricity supply to about six communities in Yobe.


On the last segment of the power value chain, Distribution through over 100 injection sub-stations and a distribution expansion programme to be funded by the Federal Government now in an advanced state of procurement. Although there are still people which power have not reached, although there are still disruptions from time to time, and although there are still people who also need meters, the President Buhari’s administration is working to reach them, it is indisputable that this government have delivered on incremental power as promised.

So, as 40% shareholder in the Distribution Company, PMB invested N72 Billion for procurement of equipment and installation to help get the 2,000 MW to consumers and this process has been advertised with encouraging responses from original equipment manufacturers. This will improve service to customers of Kaduna DisCo, in places like Zaria City, Sabon Gari, Samaru, Giwa, Yakawada, Tudun Wada, Markafi, to mention a few.


The evidence of PMB progress and achievement is not only captured in the last quarter of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Report for Q2 of 2018 which shows a growth of 7.5% in the electricity sector, previous quarterly reports from 2017, have consistently recorded growth, a clear departure from 2014-2015 and proof of change, which is an assurance of the Next Level Nigeria.

The President Buhari administration response of course has been to diversify Nigeria’s energy sources and optimize other assets for power production by producing an Energy Mix that targets a 30% component of renewable energy out of the Gross energy we produce by 2030.

This administration have also matched the intent with actions such as signing 14 solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPAs) with 14 Developers with the potential to deliver over 1,000 MW of solar power. PMB also resolved problems that stalled work at the Zungeru 700 MW hydro power plant with a new completion date of 2019 and have also now awarded the 3050 MW Mambilla hydro power plant after over 40 years of its initial conception.

Finally, this government is in advanced stages of procurement for 6 small hydro dams for private sector operation. What remains therefore is the faithful implementation of these projects to bring on stream their stock of renewable solar and Hydro Power. According to Hon. Minister Babatunde Fashola, he said, even before all these other sources of renewable power come on stream, we are seeing better results through maintenance, repairs and investment in the hydro power plants. The percentage of hydro power on the grid has gone up to 26% from 15% that it was in May 2015 and the gas fired power has reduced proportion now respresents 74% of our energy mix from 85% in the same month in 2015, even though total power has increased, this is progress that we must sustain to get more renewable energy.


Finally, I will like to also state that the Buhari Administration has approved and started the implementation of Rural Electrification Strategy and Plan for Nigeria in 2017 and constituted the board and management of the Rural Electrification Agency early this year. Their mandate is to champion and drive rural electrification and penetration with the bias to use solar and mini grids. This should have been done since 2006, one year after the Electric Power Reform Act was passed in 2005.

I am confident and I can categorically tell you that President Buhari administration has delivered on what they have conceived, planned and are implementing. I therefore now have the pleasure to declare to you all that the PMB government which assumed office in 2015 has achieved more in Nigeria’s Power Sector.