In a landmark move aimed at transforming the power landscape in Nigeria, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Power, has commissioned a 63MVA, 132/33kV mobile power substation in Eleyele, Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State. The state-of-the-art facility was unveiled on Thursday by the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.

The project, executed under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), is a collaboration between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Power Company and Siemens Energy. It is part of a wider strategy to modernise Nigeria’s power infrastructure and increase the nation’s electricity transmission capacity.

During the commissioning ceremony, Chief Adelabu described the substation as a vital infrastructure that will significantly bolster power delivery to communities in Ibadan and its environs. He revealed that the mobile substation would add 50.4 megawatts to the national grid’s transmission capacity and directly improve electricity supply to homes, institutions, and businesses in Apete, Ologuneru, Sango, Bodija, and The Polytechnic Ibadan area.

“The commissioning of this mobile substation is a testament to our commitment to delivering reliable and sustainable power to the people of Oyo State and indeed all Nigerians,” Adelabu stated. “It is also aligned with the Federal Government’s broader vision to modernize the power sector and improve the overall quality of life for citizens.”

The minister explained that the newly inaugurated substation forms part of a strategic intervention to overcome persistent bottlenecks in Nigeria’s electricity transmission system. He noted that with the successful installation of this facility, communities that have long suffered from unreliable electricity supply will now experience improved and consistent power.

Chief Adelabu further disclosed that the mobile substation in Eleyele is one of several being deployed nationwide under the pilot phase of the Presidential Power Initiative. These substations, he said, are part of a deliberate plan to enhance the capacity, flexibility, and resilience of the national transmission network.

“Through the deployment of these mobile substations, we are addressing critical infrastructure gaps. This project alone contributes 50.4 megawatts to our grid, and others under development are expected to deliver even more. We are talking about a national-scale increase of over 1,300 megawatts in transmission capacity,” he noted.

The minister revealed that since its inception, the FGN Power Company, in conjunction with Siemens Energy, has successfully installed and energised eight new power transformers, contributing 569.6 megawatts to the national transmission network. In addition, five mobile substations had already been deployed, contributing another 252 megawatts. With the commissioning of the Eleyele facility, the number of mobile substations now stands at six, adding a total of 302.4 megawatts to the grid.

“Another mobile substation at the Federal University of Technology Owerri is on the verge of completion and will soon contribute an additional 50.4 megawatts, bringing the total from substations to 352.8 megawatts,” he added.

In total, these efforts have resulted in a significant 922.4 megawatt increase in the national grid’s transmission capacity a crucial development in Nigeria’s ongoing quest for stable and sufficient electricity supply.

Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FGN Power Company, Mr. Kenny Anuwe, emphasised that the commissioning marks a step forward in achieving the company’s mandate to close critical infrastructure gaps in Nigeria’s electricity sector.

“Our mission is to develop and invest in end-to-end solutions that ensure reliable and incremental energy delivery to Nigerian consumers,” Anuwe said. “By working closely with partners such as Siemens, we’re ensuring that the benefits of modern technology and engineering expertise reach our people faster and more effectively.”

In her own remarks, Engineer Folasade Sanya, Head of Technical Services at the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), praised the federal government for the landmark intervention. She described the mobile substation as a much-needed relief that will reduce technical losses and improve service delivery within IBEDC’s coverage areas.

“This initiative is commendable and timely. It strengthens the distribution network and makes it easier for us to deliver quality electricity to our customers in Ibadan and beyond,” she stated.

Residents of the host communities also expressed optimism that the new substation would mark a turning point in their long-standing struggles with erratic power supply. For many, the increased capacity and efficiency promised by the mobile substation are expected to drive business growth, improve healthcare delivery, enhance learning environments, and generally improve the living standard of the population.

The Eleyele substation commissioning is seen as part of a broader push by the Tinubu-led administration to accelerate development through infrastructure investments, energy reforms, and public-private collaboration.

With more substations and transformers already in the pipeline, stakeholders believe the Presidential Power Initiative is gaining critical momentum and inching Nigeria closer to its goal of achieving reliable, sustainable, and affordable electricity for all.