The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the procurement, design, installation and construction contracts and projects for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, told State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that the approvals were to facilitate the operations of the TCN.

“The first memorandum sought council’s approval for the procurement of transmission line materials for re-conductor works for the TCN in favour of Messrs Legacy Power Ltd. in the sum of six million dollars; that is the offshore value.

“The component for the onshore is N145 million, inclusive of all taxes and 12 months of completion.

“The second memorandum sought approval for a contract for the construction of a 15-kilometre turn-in, turn-out line at the existing Akure-Ado-Ekiti 132 single-circuit transmission line at the Akure sub-station transmission company.

“It was also in favour of Messrs Legacy Power Ltd. in the sum of $2.5 million; that is the offshore component. The onshore component is N988.5 million,’’ he said.

The minister explained that the 330KV sub-station in Akure completed more than two years ago, could not be energised because of the unavailability of a line that was supposed to come from Benin.

According to him, there is a new line under construction.

“The line is coming from Benin North to Oshogbo to energise the Akure sub-station.

“The project is a 132KV line from the Akure sub-station going to Akure-Ado-Ekiti, which is simultaneously going on with the Benin North-Akure line.

“By the time we are able to energise the Akure line, this project will have been completed so that the whole area would have no problem of electricity.

“This project will be completed in 12 months and was also approved by the council,’’ he said.

Mr Aliyu said the last memorandum, which had five projects, sought to design, supply and install 132 32kv sub-station and transmission lines across different locations in the country by the TCN.

He said the contracts awarded to several contractors had $53 million offshore and N15.6 billion onshore costs.

“The projects are all similar – design, supply and install two by 60mva 132 33kV transmission sub-stations across the country.

“We have one in Misau Local Government Area in Bauchi State; another in Mashi Local Government in Katsina State; the third in Benue State, which is Api and North Bank in Makurdi.

“We have the fourth one at Ebonyi where a 60mva transformer would be installed at a university; then, we have the other one at Ebonyi Airport; then, the fifth one is a line of 30km at Rimin Zakara to Kayin in Kano.

“Total costs of the projects are 53 million dollars offshore and N15.6 billion onshore,’’ Mr Aliyu said.

(NAN)