TCN seeks more funds to complete ongoing power projects

By Constance Athekame

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has urged to the National Assembly (NASS) to allocate more funds to enable it to complete ongoing power projects.

Its Managing Director, Mr Sule Abdulaziz, made the request on Monday when the Senate Committee on Power, led by its Chairman, Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe, paid an oversight visit to the company in Abuja.

Abdulaziz said the company had over 100 ongoing projects, adding that when completed, the national grid would be improved.

According to him, lack of funding stalls completion of some of the projects started since 2001.

”TCN is focusing on grid expansion because of the increasing demand for electricity; it does this through rehabilitation and reinforcement projects.

”Currently, TCN has more than 100 ongoing projects nationwide.

”Most of the projects cannot be completed due to fund constraints and we appeal to the committee to help TCN source funds to complete them,” he said.

The managing director also emphasised that there were other challenges like Right of Way issues and vandalism of transmission and installations.

Responding Abaribe, said that in spite of the huge sums of money injected into the power sector, there were still a lot of challenges.

He, however, assured TCN that the committee would report to the Senate as requested by the TCN management, and examine the possibility of reviewing its annual budget for improved service delivery. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Abiemwense Moru