Lagos, Ogun get succour from Oke-Aro power transmission facility

Lagos and Ogun States can now expect improved power supply from the national grid following the recent completion of the Oke-Aro 330/132/33kV power transmission infrastructure located in-between the two states.

‎Vice President Namadi Sambo commissioned the facility recently and said the project would decongest the overloaded Egbin power lines to ease power transmission to Lagos and Ogun states.

Sambo explained that the Oke-Aro project was one in the series of power projects completed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, under the National Integrated Power Projects, NIPPs, through which the three tiers of Nigerian government aim to boost power generation and supply, and by extension economic and industrial development of the country.

‎Giving an insight into the reason the Oke-Aro project was conceptualised, the vice president, who was represented by the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, noted that Lagos alone accounted for over 40 percent of power consumed in Nigeria due to its industrial and commercial nature.

“Prior to the advent of Oke Aro substation, there were only 3nos 330/132/33kV substations in Lagos. One of these three,is  Ikeja West 330/132/33kV Substation, the major marshalling point for all power plants, which flows its generation  into Lagos.

“This development had thrown the state into a state of great congestion with limited space for safe expansion of capacity for increased flows into Lagos and environs.

” All the 330kV power lines from the Benin and Oshogbo 330kV hubs of the national grid – which were also serving as evacuation lines for NIPP’s new power plants at Omotosho as well as Olorunsogo, terminated there.

“Even 330kV evacuation lines for older major power plants such as Egbin in Lagos also terminated at Ikeja West.

“It was  evidently clear therefore that an appropriately engineered relief substations that could provide substantial decongestion for Ikeja West in particular as well as the other 2nos older 330kV substations in Lagos located at Akangba and Aja respectively, is necessary.

“Oke Aro substation was therefore conceived with this need in mind and eventually sited in this community which lies between  the border of Lagos and Ogun states to interface between Egbin Power plant and the Ikeja West substation,” Namadi Sambo said.