By Samuel Solomon
In a monumental boost to Nigeria’s economic and industrial development, the Honourable Minister of Power, Engr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has commission four mega power transmission projects.
The historic move, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, cements Kano’s status as the commercial nerve center of Northern Nigeria.
The high-profile event, held at the Walalambe Transmission Substation, saw Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf represented by the Commissioner of Power and Renewable Energy, Dr. Gaddaffi Sani Shehu, while the Emir of Kano was represented by the Walin Kano, Alhaji Mahe Bashir. The commissioning, executed in partnership with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) led by MD/CEO Engr. Sule A. Abdulaziz, was funded by the World Bank and handled by contractors including Messrs Atlantic Engineering and China Energy Engineering Group (JSPDI).
The commissioned projects include the new 2x40MVA, 132/33kV Walalambe Substation. Adding 64 megawatts to the grid, it powers the Tokarawa Industrial Area, Eastern Bypass, and Maiduguri Road, while providing a dedicated feeder to Lee Group of Companies, ending its 30-year off-grid operation.
At the Kumbotso Substation, upgrades replaced older transformers, pushing capacity from 600MVA to 750MVA at the 330/132kV level and to 280MVA at the 132/33kV level, directly benefiting at least 220,000 households. The Dakata Substation saw the installation of a 1x100MVA transformer, raising capacity by 66.7% to 250MVA to support its industrial complex.
Finally, the Dan Agundi Substation, previously crippled by a fire, was restored with a 1x100MVA transformer. Capacity skyrocketed from 60MVA to 160MVA, providing reliable power to over 80,330 people, including the historic Kano ancient town and the Emir’s Palace.
The strategic significance of these projects cannot be overstated. As the most populous state in Northern Nigeria and the region’s undisputed commercial and industrial powerhouse, Kano’s massive population and bustling markets demand immense energy to thrive. For a state where millions of households rely on small businesses, local manufacturing, and agriculture for survival, uninterrupted power is the bedrock of sustainable development.
By providing this unprecedented infrastructure, the Federal Government is directly addressing the energy needs of millions, empowering local entrepreneurs, lowering the cost of doing business, and igniting a new wave of economic prosperity that will ripple across the entire Northern region.
Beyond capacity increases, these facilities now feature state-of-the-art digital control and protection panels replacing outdated analogue systems. Minister Tegbe emphasized that these federal interventions were strategically targeted at Kano due to its immense economic significance, proving the Federal Government is delivering tangible infrastructure to power industries, create jobs, and transform lives.
