Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, has highlighted that the transmission of electricity across the country faces hurdles due to the encroachment of lands by people in various communities obstructing power lines. Aliyu shared these concerns during his two-day working visit to nine power stations in Kano. He also emphasized that the national grid has seen significant improvement with the capacity now capable of supporting up to 7,800 megawatts or more.
Furthermore, Aliyu revealed that Kano is currently receiving 330 single line from Kaduna, which is insufficient. However, a new project has been awarded to enhance the capacity to over 2,000 megawatts, catering for Kano and Katsina states.
Aliyu expressed, “One of our biggest challenges is how people are living on the ways we will pass our cables that will generate power to the various destinations. The national grid has witnessed the most rapid improvement ever. As it is now, the capacity can take up to 7,800 megawatts or more but it may not be useful if it is not up taken as the distribution capacity is not up to that.”
He also added, “So part of the challenge is the right of way which we are facing. We need people to vacate the ways through which the wires can pass. Some people were paid before, but still they didn’t vacate the places. Our agreement with the German company will raise the National Grid to 25,000 by 2025.”
Aliyu urged Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state to provide a way for the Transmission Company of Nigeria to pass its cables to enhance the power system in the state. He assured Nigerians that all ongoing power projects would be completed by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Ganduje responded, “It is worth noting that we have compensated all of them to evacuate the path. Yet, they refuse to move. Nevertheless, we shall deliberate with them once more and if they refuse to move after another notice, we will embark on a demolition exercise.”