The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved $53.1 million in federal funds and N2.1 billion in local funds for the procurement and installation of electricity conductors to increase power supply across the country.
Abubakar Aliyu, Minister of Power, disclosed this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the Council meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja.
He stated that once installed, the conductors would assist in addressing the issue of constant tripping of circuit breakers due to overloading of electricity lines.
“The total amount for these four components of conductors is $53,131, 128.93 plus an onshore component of N2, 127, 068, 626. 45,” he said.
Aliyu said the new conductors would be used to upgrade existing power lines, with the aim of enhancing their efficiency.
“These are existing lines which are being upgraded. The wires will be removed and new ones put in place and the difference is that the new ones will be more efficient because they carry more load than the old ones.
“They will reduce sagging because once the wires are aged, they will sag and they become vulnerable and heavier.
”So, these ones are lighter and can carry more electricity so it will improve efficiency and address the challenges of constant tripping of the breakers due to the overloading of these lines will be tremendously reduced,” the minister said.
Aliyu listed the four components of the contract to include: 173 kilometres Kubotso- Hadeja line; 105 kilometres Kumbotso-Kankiya line; 90 kilometre Benin-Irrua line and 72 kilometres Irrua-Okpella.
Other components included: 48 kilometres Okpella-Okenne, 58 kilometeres Okenna-Ajaokuta lines and 394 kilometres Gombe-Biu-Damboa-Maiduguri line.
The minister also disclosed that Council approved a N1.46 billion contract for the procurement of 20 transformers ratio analysers for the Transmission Company of Nigeria.