The Niger Delta Power Holding Company(NDPHC)  says  the 330/132/3 Kilovolt (KV) 2×150 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) and 2x60MVA transmission sub-station would boost power supply in Lafia and environs.

NDPHC said that the sub-station in Lafia, Nasarawa state would be inaugurated in few weeks.

Mr Emmanuel Ojor, Head, Communication & Public Relations, NDPHC said this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

He said the transmission substation is one of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) aimed at improving transmission of electricity nationwide.

According to him, it will be the first time that the state capital, Lafia and its environ will be connected to the national grid since its creation on Oct. 1, 1996.

Ojor said that Mr Ifeoluwa Oyedele, Executive Director, Networks, NDPHC, at the weekend led a team from the company on a pre-commissioning inspection visit to Akurba, Lafia .

According to Oyedele,  when the station is energised, residents of Lafia and its environs will experience both social and economic boom.

“The project will enhance uninterrupted power supply. Before now, even the Government House, Lafia could not run on electricity from the distribution network.

“Because the 33kV line that comes from Akwanga is grossly inadequate to power the state capital and its environs.

“Fortunately, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has already awarded the necessary distribution contracts that will ensure that as soon as the transmission substation is commissioned, the whole area would be lighted up,” he said.

While describing the construction as a ‘landmark project’ for the Buhari Administration, Oyedele said the project was being completed in record time.

“The project has tremendous local content built into it as most of the technicians and engineers who did the construction were Nigerians thereby increasing local capacity.

“Many factories including heavy industries are now springing up in Nassarawa State in anticipation of the inauguration of the transmission substation.

“As they are now rest assured of adequate supply of electricity,” he said.

Dr Mohammed Gumi, Deputy Managing Director of AK-AY Elektrik, the contractor handling the project, lauded the NDPHC for the confidence reposed in them.

Gumi gave the assurance that the project would be completely and ready for inauguration within the next few weeks when connection to the national grid through the line-in, line-out would be completed.

He said that the transmission substation has the capacity to deliver and meet 240 Mega Watts (MW) of load demand.

“It will also help to provide backfeed to FCT whenever necessary since FCT is being served from Shiroro and Geregu power stations,” he said.