Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — In a move to enhance electricity access and reliability in Northeast Nigeria, Vice President Kashim Shettima has commissioned a 1×7.5MVA 33kV/11kV injection substation at Borno State University, executed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC.
Describing the project as a key milestone in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope power sector reform agenda, the Vice President declared it a decisive step in improving infrastructure and addressing decades of neglect in power distribution.
“For so long, we have been profiled as a nation with poor maintenance culture. This dysfunction cuts across both the private and public sectors, and we owe it to ourselves to say: enough is enough.”
The new facility, delivered under NDPHC’s Distribution Intervention Projects, includes a 1×7.5MVA 33/11kV injection substation, 3km of 33kV transmission line, 2.5km of 11kV distribution line, 2.5km of low-tension (LT) line, and three 500KVA distribution transformers.
According to NDPHC, the infrastructure will provide up to 6 megawatts of electricity, offering a lifeline to Borno State University and vulnerable surrounding communities plagued by inconsistent power supply.
Managing Director/CEO of NDPHC, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, described the commissioning as part of NDPHC’s broader mandate to strengthen Nigeria’s entire electricity value chain, from generation to last-mile distribution.
“This 7.5MVA substation is a testament to our commitment to scaling infrastructure that delivers uninterruptible electricity where it matters most. It affirms our role in bridging infrastructure gaps and delivering the benefits of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.”
She added that the substation would be handed over to the Yola Electricity Distribution Company, YEDC, which will operate and maintain the facility for long-term service delivery.
Engr. Bello Babayo, NDPHC’s Executive Director, Networks, said the substation was designed to evacuate 6MW of power to end-users, with direct benefits for academic and residential users in the area.
“The university community will now enjoy stable, efficient, and reliable power. We’ve always emphasized that generation means little without robust and decentralized distribution.”
Echoing this sentiment, Abdulrahman Isa, Managing Director of YEDC, thanked NDPHC for the intervention, calling it a strategic asset that will enhance service delivery across the Borno grid.
“NDPHC continues to be a critical partner in delivering the infrastructure backbone we need to serve our customers better,” Isa said.
