BUSINESS FG directs TCN to commence electricity distribution

The federal government has directed the Transmission Company of Nigeria ( TCN) to take over all completed transmission lines and commence immediate distribution of power.

Vice President Namadi Sambo gave the directive during a meeting with the Board and Supervising Management of the TCN and other officials of the power delivery sector at the State House, according to a statement by his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Malam Umar Sani on Friday.

Sambo congratulated Ibrahim Waziri, the new Chairman of TCN, on his new assignment, and stressed the need to address the challenges of power supply in the country, the statement added.

It quoted Sambo as saying that the government would continue to address the issues of financing the power sector, development of gas infrastructure and the production of hydro-power plants to ensure adequate power supply.

“There are a lot of challenges, particularly as government is keeping the TCN as a government-owned entity as a new strategy for bringing in Manitoba to manage and transfer technology to our local experts.”

According to the statement, Sambo assured them of government’s continued support and partnership toward achieving set goals. It said the Ministry of Power was charged with coming up with solutions to problems hindering smooth power delivery in the country.

The statement added that the TCN chairman had earlier lauded the efforts being made to revamp the power sector.

Waziri informed the VicePresident that the TCN has about 125 key projects across the country and is targeting at least 20,000 megawatts of electricity.