By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri
Power generation to Borno State has received a boost with the inauguration of 120 megawatts Molai Electricity Transmission Substation (METS).
The project which was commissioned on Wednesday by the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Shehuri, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, will distribute electricity on the330/132/33KV lines to 10 towns and communities in Borno State.
Shehuri said the project has added another bulk source of electricity through the Damaturu 330KV transmission line and will improved “bulk power supply” to Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) by 120 megawatts.
According to him, the 330/132kv circuit will provided flexible power supply to Biu and Damboa in Borno state.
He said the ongoing 132KV project at Molai substation will supply electricity to Monguno, Marte, Dikwa, Gwoza, Bama, Kwaya-Kusar, Chibok and Uba transmission substations.
He said: “The generation of electricity in the country has already hit 8,000 megawatts with an increased capacity to generate 20,000 megawatts in the next few years.”
He urged the people to protect the installed electricity facilities against vandals and miscreants.
Speaking on the project, the Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Usman Mohammed said that the President approved the project in order to double the capacity of Molai and Damaturu substations.
He said with the support of the military, TCN has completed the study and funding by African Development Bank (AfDB) to establish 132KV line and substation.
The substation, according to him, will supply electricity to 15 towns and communities in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
He said the completion of electricity transmission and distribution projects, was to revive economic activities in the region.
He however lamented that the region is the furthest from power generation stations.
He said the 330KV double circuit line runs through Ekom, Ogoja,Kashimbilla, Mambilla, Jalingo, Yola, Hong, Biu, Damaturu, Potiskum, Azare, Dutse and Jogara in Cross River, Adamawa, Taraba and Yobe states.
He said the region will have three different sources of electricity supplies. This, according to him, is in addition to the Jos-Gombe, Kano-Damaturu and Calabar-Yola alternative power sources to Northeast.
“For the first time in the history of power sector, we are not only focusing on expanding power, but on its quality to better serve our numerous customers,” he said.