Abdulaziz: How TCN Achieved Targets Despite Challenges

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Abdulaziz, has said that despite the challenges of 2021, the wholly federal government owned entity met a number of its set targets.

Taking stock of the activities of the company during the year, the MD said strategic management decisions were taken that enabled the completion of several abandoned projects.

In addition, Abdulaziz noted that prompt maintenance of operational facilities, upgrade and repairs/restoration of vandalised transmission lines, installation of new transformers and substations, re-calibration and reconfiguration of transmission lines and transformer protection schemes were undertaken.

“We take pride in the fact that these measures effectively reduced the frequency of systems disturbances and collapse, resulting in an all-time national peak generation of 5,801.60MW, successfully transmitted on March 1,2021,” he noted.

Abdulaziz further listed that achievements by the company to include the creation of Kano region, bringing to 10 the TCN’s regional operations centre in the country.

According to him, to further enhance its operational efficiency, the TCN is currently building over 32 office complexes nationwide, including regional, sub-regional offices and work centres.

He added that the projects are at various stages of completion, except the Port Harcourt regional office in Rivers state already completed and commissioned.

To create a more conducive working environment for staff efficiency, he said during the year the company also provided work tools and safety equipment, spare parts and test equipment.

On how to sustain the company’s capacity building, the MD said TCN embarked upon training and retraining of all cadres of staff, the most significant being the collaboration between TCN and the World Bank to train 708 engineers.

Speaking on the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP), Abdulaziz stated that as the chairman of the board, progress was being made on the implementation of transmission interconnection projects that would impact positively on the sub-region.

He listed major challenges on the project to include the right of way encroachment, way leave issues, funding, natural disasters, vandalism of TCN infrastructure and facilities as well as insecurity.

To address these challenges, he said his management had continued to engage the appropriate stakeholders and authorities with a view to minimising their impact on TCN operations nationwide.

“TCN’s community engagement efforts and collaborations with security agencies and state governments are gradually producing positive results.

“As we work towards our vision, we cannot afford to rest on our oars. We must strive for higher accomplishments in the NESI. We must continue to leverage on team spirit and corporate commitment in our determination to further increase grid capacity, stability and efficiency as well as enhance interconnectivity in the West African sub-region.

“In 2022 and beyond, we will intensify our effort on repositioning TCN as a world class transmission service provider and system operator in line with the our Vision, Mission and Core Values through effective rebranding strategies,” he noted.