 says N457 billion debts as of March 2025, owed by stakeholders in the electricity sector is affec){kind=link}
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says N457 billion debts as of March 2025, owed by stakeholders in the electricity sector is affecting its performance.
Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, represented by the Executive Director of Transmission System Provider, Oluwagbenga Ajiboye, disclosed this at the opening workshop for Power Correspondent, themed ‘Understanding the Critical Role of TCN in Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry NESI” in Keffi Nassarawa State north-central Nigeria.
He explained that the debt comprises N217 billion in legacy debt and N240 billion for recent services.
According to him, despite the debts affecting the transmission subsector in the country, TCN’s wheeling capacity has increased to 8,701 megawatts.
He further lamented that ongoing challenges such as vandalism and funding shortfalls continue to hinder the performance of the sector, despite notable investments in transmission infrastructure.
Abdulaziz also called for significant investments in the distribution segment of the electricity value chain, stressing that the power network in the country is only as strong as its weakest link.
He stressed that; “No matter how good TCN is, if the GENCO is lacking, we will take the capacity of the GENCO. That is the total reflection of the NESI. So also, if TCN is the weak link, you cannot get more than the output of TCN.
“So also, if it is the DISCO, so you can see that it is a value chain that must not be broken. The strengths must be uniform and be able to deliver the end product,” he said.
The director emphasised that the national power grid goes beyond the transmission infrastructure to include generation, distribution and consumers.
“Grid comprises generation, transmission, distribution and you, the consumer. The overall grid that was managed before now by Transmission Company of Nigeria which comprises two companies, TSP and Independent System Operator but on the 9th of May, the unbundling of TCN into two happened.
“We have two licenses under the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Transmission Service Provider and Independent System Operator. The Independent System Operator metamorphosed into the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO)”.
In his presentation, the General Manager, project Coordination Aminu Tahir said the company has completed several substations that are lying idle because of challenges of bringing lines to them.
Tahir said that TCN is faced with several right of way issues which have hindered progress in connecting the new transmission substations.
He stated that the company has received funding from the World Bank, French Development Agency (AFD), African Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to fund most of its projects aimed at expanding transmission infrastructure.
Earlier, the General Manager, Public Affairs Ndidi Mbah said the workshop highlights the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s vital function as the sole bulk transporter of electricity in Nigeria.
She stressed that the workshop emphasizes TCN’s strategic importance and its contribution to the overall stability and development of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI)adding that it will help to educate participants about TCN’s role and responsibilities within the Nigerian power sector and to clarify the importance of TCN’s functions in ensuring a stable and reliable electricity supply in the country.
Hauwa Abu