FEC okays $53.1m for electricity conductors to improve power supply

By Innocent Obasi

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved $53.1 million and N2.1 billion as a local component for the procurement and installation of electricity conductors to improve power supply across Nigeria.

Abubakar Aliyu, the minister of power, made the disclosure while briefing on the outcome of the Council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja.

“The total amount for these four components of conductors is $53,131, 128.93 plus an onshore component of N2, 127, 068, 626. 45,” Aliyu said.

The minister said that the conductors would be used to upgrade existing power lines in an effort to increase their effectiveness.

“These are existing lines which are being upgraded. The wires will be removed and new ones put in place and the difference is that the new ones will be more efficient because they carry more load than the old ones.

“They will reduce sagging because once the wires are aged, they will sag and become vulnerable and heavier.

”So, these ones are lighter and can carry more electricity so it will improve efficiency and address the challenges of constant tripping of the breakers due to the overloading of these lines will be tremendously reduced,” he said.

Aliyu further said that the contract would be broken up into the following segments: 173 km of Kubotso-Hadeja line, 105 km of Kumbotso-Kankiya line, 90 km of Benin-Irrua line, 72 km of Irrua-Okpella line, 48 km of Okpella-Okenne line, 58 km of Okenna-Ajaokuta line, and 394 km of Gombe-Biu-Damboa-Maiduguri line.