…revokes contract for Ijebu Ode sub-station, hands over project to own engineers
As part of the efforts to increase power supply to the industrial areas of the country, the Transmission Company of Nigeria has begun arrangement to build electricity sub-stations at Sagamu, Ogijo, Arigbajo, Agbara and around the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, where industries are concentrated in Ogun State.
The company has also revoked the contract for the upgrading of the sub-stations at Ijebu Ode and other parts of the country and handed the work to TCN engineers who would be expected to complete it within two weeks at reduced cost.
We’ll increase the capacity of the transformers and make sure there is change in the power sector
TCN Executive Director, Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed, who was in company with some officials of the company, including the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mba; General Manager, TCN Osogbo, Eng. Olusola Adeyemo; Eng. Balogun and Mr. Muyiwa Adewale of the Public Affairs Department, TCN Osogbo, disclosed these while paying an unscheduled visits to the Sagamu, Ijebu Ode and Abeokuta sub-stations at the weekend.
Mohammed said that the company would soon start the construction of 330kv sub-stations in Sagamu, Ogijo, Arigbajo, and around the RCCG Camp, respectively, while a 122kv sub-station would be built for New Agbara.
He noted that the construction of the sub-stations was very important to the company’s efforts towards delivering electricity to these areas, which he said were the most industrialised parts of the country.
Mohammed commended the contractor who handled the sub-stations at Alimosho and Ejigbo, expressing hope that he would make good his promise to complete work on the 16AV in Zaria, Kaduna State in the next one month.
He disclosed that the TCN was already doing massive work in Ogun and Lagos States regarding the improvement of electricity supply to the country. He stated that the 2by 16AV in Abeokuta “is working well and delivering electricity.”
The TCN executive director, however, expressed regret at the disagreement between the consultants to the projects and the beneficiaries, stressing, “So, we are reviewing it to reduce it and once it is done, we pay them.”
Mohammed further said, “We are also looking at how to increase the supply of power to Ijebu Ode and either to bring it from Sagamu or to the 130 AV. Whatever is cheaper is what we are going to do. But whichever one we are going to do, we will deliberate with the Ogun State Government on what has been affecting our performance.
“Our motivation is to see that this job is completed, but we don’t know how the contractors are working. We’ll also see that we increase the capacity of the transformers and make sure there is change in the power sector. I have visited states like Kaduna and now Ogun State.
“The main thing is to provide stable and quality power to people all over the country and if you look at the power sector, you’ll see that there are many changes in it.”
On the revocation of the contract for the World Bank projects in Ijebu Ode, the TCN executive director said that the company was not satisfied with the level of work done so far by the contractor and had no other choice than to hand over its completion to TCN engineers.
He added, “The company has not done well; so we told our engineers to install the equipment (transformers).And whatever we are having is 60mva doubling the capacity of Ijebu sub-station. Their engineers have been told and given two weeks to complete the job and bring the transformers to service.
“But in Sagamu, there are various contracts and two transformers are being financed, contracts like building indoor breakers. The contact has progressed, but not to our satisfaction, but we have told the contractors to double up.
“There is also the contract for building the line from Ikorodu to Sagamu; the line is not yet done to the company’s satisfaction. But we have instructed the contractor to see what they can do to complete the work as soon as possible.”
Mohammed also said that the N17billion intervention by the Federal Government has had a salutary effect on the operations of the electricity distribution companies to supply power to all parts of the country.
The representative of Rhmoga Energy, the contractor handling the projects, Engineer Durojaiye Francis, explained that the delay in the completion was caused by the need to import some of the equipment required for the work.
Durojaiye promised that his company would ensure that work was completed before the expiration of the two-week ultimatum.
The Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who was represented on the occasion by the Chairman of the Council of Olorituns, Chief M.O Olaitan and Chief Ademola Okusaga, promised to support the TCN in the discharge of its mandate to the people.
