By: Tunji Okunlola
The Federal Government has begun building a 132/33kV, 120-megavolt-ampere (MVA) electricity transmission substation in Katsina State’s Mashi Local Government Area. The project is meant to improve power transmission and support economic activity in the state.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is executing the project, which is due for completion in March 2027.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony in Mashi on Friday. He said the facility will strengthen the transmission network and improve delivery of available electricity to Katsina and nearby communities. The substation will have two 60MVA transformers, giving a combined capacity of 120MVA, which he said is roughly equal to 96 megawatts.
What it is meant to do
Tegbe said the project is designed to support farmers, traders, artisans and households by strengthening the electricity infrastructure needed for growth and better living conditions. “On completion, it will provide 120MVA of transmission capacity. This will strengthen the network’s ability to deliver available electricity within Katsina and its environs, supporting productive activity and household welfare,” he said.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for backing power sector investments and said reliable infrastructure is essential to the administration’s economic goals. He added that the project shows the government’s commitment to a stronger base for businesses, jobs and prosperity.
Delivery and community role
Tegbe said compensation issues affecting the project have been resolved, and urged the contractor, supervising engineers and TCN officials to deliver quality work on time. “With completion scheduled for March 2027, our focus must be disciplined execution,” he said, calling for strict attention to quality from design through equipment manufacture, civil works, installation and testing.
He asked Mashi residents to protect the facility from vandalism and to report suspicious activity during and after construction. “Guide this asset as your own home; it is your asset. The Federal Government is providing it for your use and for the benefit of generations to come,” he said.
Governor Radda’s remarks
Katsina State Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda thanked Tinubu for approving three transmission substation projects for the state, calling them important investments in economic development and electricity supply. “Today is not a time for grammar; rather, it is a time for us to celebrate Mr President,” he said.
He said the state would keep working with the Federal Government on projects that improve economic opportunities and public welfare. He also pointed to the ongoing railway linking Kano, Daura and Katsina, with an extension planned toward Maradi in Niger Republic, as another major investment.
Radda disclosed that components for a proposed 10-megawatt wind and solar hybrid power project, a collaboration between the federal and state governments, have arrived in Nigeria. He hoped the Minister of Power would return for the commissioning of the hybrid plant and the completed substations, and thanked him for visiting and for his continued support.
The ceremony was attended by officials of the Federal Ministry of Power, TCN and the Kano Electricity Distribution Company, representatives of the Katsina State Government, traditional rulers, local government officials and other stakeholders.
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