By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has commissioned three major power infrastructure projects in Kano State, increasing electricity transformation capacity at the Dan-Agundi, Dakata and Kumbotso transmission substations to strengthen bulk power supply and support the state’s growing commercial and industrial activities.
The projects, funded by the World Bank and implemented by TCN in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power, involved the installation of new transformers and the upgrading of critical substation equipment.
TCN Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, disclosed this on Thursday, October 22, 2026, during the commissioning ceremonies attended by the Minister of Power, Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe; Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Alhaji Mahmuda Mamman; and Managing Director of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), Dr. Abubakar Shuaibu Jimeta, among other stakeholders.
At the Dan-Agundi Transmission Substation, the installation of a new 100MVA, 132/33kV transformer increased the facility’s available transformation capacity from 60MVA to 160MVA, equivalent to 128MW.
Abdulaziz explained that the intervention became necessary after a fire incident damaged two of the substation’s three existing 60MVA transformers, significantly reducing its capacity to serve Dan-Agundi, the Emir’s Palace, Kano ancient town and adjoining communities.
He said the project also involved replacing analogue control and protection panels with modern digital systems and extending the control room to accommodate the upgraded equipment.
According to him, the improvements would enhance equipment monitoring, fault identification, protection and operational control, while the project is expected to benefit approximately 80,330 people, subject to electricity availability and the capacity of the associated distribution network.
At the Dakata Transmission Substation, another 100MVA, 132/33kV transformer was commissioned, raising the facility’s transformation capacity from 150MVA to 250MVA, equivalent to approximately 200MW.
The additional capacity represents a 66.7 per cent increase and is expected to strengthen electricity supply to the Dakata Industrial Complex and surrounding areas.
Abdulaziz noted that Dakata serves an important industrial and commercial zone where electricity demand continues to grow.
He added that the project included the replacement of analogue control and protection panels with digital systems and the extension of the control room to accommodate the upgraded equipment.
The intervention is expected to have the potential to benefit at least 70,000 households, subject to available electricity supply and the capacity of the distribution network.
At the Kumbotso Transmission Substation, TCN completed the replacement of an existing 150MVA, 330/132kV transformer with a higher-capacity 300MVA, 330/132/33kV transformer. The project also involved replacing a 40MVA, 132/33kV transformer with a 100MVA unit.
The upgrades increased the substation’s transformation capacity at the 330/132kV level from 600MVA to 750MVA, representing a 25 per cent increase.
At the 132/33kV level, capacity rose from 220MVA to 280MVA, an increase of approximately 27.3 per cent.
The expansion at the 132/33kV level translates to an increase in capacity from 176MW to 224MW at a power factor of 0.8. The project is expected to have the potential to improve electricity access for at least 220,000 households, depending on available supply and the capacity of the distribution network.
The Kumbotso project also included the installation and commissioning of associated electrical connections, support structures, auxiliary equipment, and control and protection systems required for effective operation.
TCN said the three projects were executed by China Energy Engineering Group Jiangsu Power Design Institute (JSPDI), with the projects at Dakata and Kumbotso awarded in June 2021 and completed in June 2026. The Dan-Agundi project was also completed in June 2026.
Speaking on the significance of the projects, Abdulaziz said Kano’s position as one of Nigeria’s major commercial and industrial centres made the expansion of its electricity transmission infrastructure essential to sustaining economic activities and accommodating future demand.
He explained that the interventions formed part of TCN’s broader efforts under the Nigerian Electricity Grid Maintenance, Expansion, and Rehabilitation Programme (NEGMERP) to expand transmission infrastructure, rehabilitate existing facilities and modernize critical equipment across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
According to him, the projects also support the Federal Government’s power sector development objectives under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The TCN chief executive expressed appreciation to the World Bank, the Federal Ministry of Power, the project contractor, engineers, technical personnel and other stakeholders for their contributions to the successful delivery of the projects.
He also commended host communities for their cooperation and urged residents, businesses and other stakeholders to protect transmission infrastructure against vandalism and encroachment.
Abdulaziz stressed the importance of respecting transmission Right-of-Way corridors and reporting suspicious activities around power facilities to safeguard public investments and ensure their continued operation.
He reaffirmed TCN’s commitment to strengthening and expanding the national transmission network to improve its capacity to convey bulk electricity to distribution companies.
