FG Commissions Upgraded Ijora, Apapa Substations, Adds 208MW to Lagos Grid

By Adebola Muili

The Federal Government has commissioned two upgraded transmission substations in Lagos, adding 208 megawatts (MW) of bulk transmission capacity to the national grid and strengthening electricity supply to critical commercial areas in the state.

The Federal Ministry of Power disclosed this in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Publicity, Adeola Labzy, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, saying the projects were part of the Federal Government’s efforts to address longstanding transmission constraints and infrastructure deficiencies in the power sector.

The upgraded Ijora and Apapa Road substations were commissioned on Monday, August 17, 2026. At Ijora, two new 100MVA transformers increased the substation’s capacity from 90MVA to 230MVA, adding 112MW.

At Apapa Road, a new Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) added 96MW, replacing an outdoor transformer that had served as a stopgap since the original facility, commissioned in 1985, was decommissioned.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the projects formed part of the administration’s response to years of transmission constraints and infrastructure decay.

Tegbe said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had demonstrated “fearless commitment to addressing the structural constraints that have held our economy back,” linking the investment in transmission infrastructure to the administration’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.

He commended Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for supporting the projects, adding that the Ministry would continue to reinforce transmission infrastructure nationwide to close the gap between available generation and the capacity to evacuate power.

In his welcome address at the Apapa transmission facility, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, said the installation and energisation of two new 60MVA transformers and modern Gas Insulated Switchgear had tripled the substation’s capacity from 60MVA to 180MVA.

Abdulaziz said the Ijora facility now has a capacity of 230MVA, adding that the upgrade would increase bulk power available to the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) for onward supply to Apapa Causeway, Ijora, Amukoko, Ajegunle, Apapa Wharf, Tin Can Island and other critical commercial areas.

He described the projects, sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank in partnership with TCN, as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising the transmission network and stabilising the national grid.

The TCN chief commended the Ministry of Power, JICA, the Government of Japan, Lagos State Government and other stakeholders for their support, while appealing for similar grant assistance for other critical sections of the transmission network.

The commissioning ceremonies were attended by senior officials, including Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hideo Suzuki, represented by his deputy; JICA Nigeria’s Chief Representative, Ishigame Keiji; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power; the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO); directors and ministerial aides from the Federal Ministry of Power; representatives of the Lagos State Government; and officials of the Eko and Ikeja electricity distribution companies.