FCTA to inject N1.6bn to improve power supply in Abuja

By: Wisdom Acka

Plans by the Federal Capital Territory Administration to improve power supply in parts of Abuja have received a major boost.

This is as the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has given approval for the upward review of the contract for the expansion of a major injection substation in Life Camp.

Expansion of the two 15MVA injection substation to three 15MVA will increase the substation’s electricity capacity to cater for the current and future power load requirements for Life Camp and environs.

This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmed exclusively to Abuja Digest, last week.

He further explained that the upward review of the project became necessary owing to tremendous population growth, increased economic activities in the District, overlap in construction period, as well as changes in foreign exchange rates.

On the necessity of the project, Ahmed said: “Every District is supposed to be provided at least one injection substation. But in the case of Gwarinpa 1 District, which houses Life Camp, it has been on a temporary power supply from another District, particularly Jabi.

“This is becuase we have not developed the infection substation for Gwarinpa 1 District. So this contract provides for three number of 15KVA heavy duty transformers. While two will be working every time, one will be on standby”.

Speaking on the impact of the project, he said: “Life Camp is currently taking its power supply from Jabi District. This will be discontinued, leading to improved power supply in Jabi, because Jabi ill not have to share it’s supply anymor.

“Consequently, Life Camp which had to rely on Jabi and other districts, will be catered for by this injection substation, which has can serve the entire Gwarinpa 1 District, and let out to adjoining areas.

“So there will be significant improvement in the power supply for Life Camp and the entire District”.

The FCDA boss expressed hope that in 15 months’ time, the project would have been substantially completed because all challenges that would’ve slowed down pace of work on site have been sorted out.