The Project Manager of Legend Engineering Limited, Engr. Suleiman Adeyemo, has said that work was in high speed at the 2X30/40MVA 132/33KV Power Transmission Substation in Ibiono Ibom Local Government area of Akwa Ibom State.
Engr. Adeyemo said the project site which was handed over to them in February last year, during a groundbreaking ceremony by the Honourable Minister of State for Power, Prince Goddy Jedy Agba, has within just 13 months, have achieved significant milestones.
Suleiman Adeyemo stated that the project facilitated by the former presidential adviser on Niger Delta Affairs & Blue Economy, Senator Ita Enang, was one of the best things to have happened to the people of the area in recent times.
Adeyemo stressed that despite facing topographic challenges, with cutting and filling work of about 10 meters of the earthwork, they have equally completed the Transformer plinths.
Explaining further, the project manager noted that the funds provided was enough to acquire offshore equipment, including two transformers 2X30/40 KVA power transformers 133/33), major switch gears, VT, CVTs, and surge arresters, all of which have been procured and stored in containers.
Adeyemo also highlighted that the power transformer is complete, with all its accessories, including the transformer oil.
He attributed the successful procurement to the able leadership of their Managing Director, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining high standards.
Saying the construction of perimeter fence was 90 per cent completed, Adeyemo said the process of jacking the transformer onto the plinths was in progress.
“The substation is intended to serve Ibiono Ibom LGA, Ini LGA, part of Odukpani in Cross River State, and Arochukwu in Abia State.
“We are very certain of completing the project before the end of the year, provided that sufficient funding is made available. The project is typically a 24-month endeavour, subject to funding availability.
“It was initially budgeted at N5.8 billion. However, only N500 million was released to them last year, which we have utilized to push the project forward to its current state. The transmission power substation spans approximately 9 hectares of land and includes staff quarters and a control room. We currently have 209 drums of transformer oil and conservator tanks”, he stated.
Also speaking, Engr Afolabi Ademola, a retired manager of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Managing Director of Legend Engineering Limited, affirmed that they are the technical partners to the contractor, JAMEC West Africa Limited, which oversees the project’s execution.
Emphasizing the capability of local companies to execute projects, as demonstrated by the progress made, Engr Ademola mentioned that they have completed the profile drawing and obtained approval and were currently working on the transmission line.
He expressed optimism that once the substation is completed and a reliable power supply established, many companies will be attracted to the area.
He explained that they had enough hands on the project, including eight professional engineers and assured that once funding was available, they would continue with other civil works and import additional equipment such as the potassium panel, towers, conductors, isolators, breakers, etc.
“We have a satrong partnership with the manufacturers. That is what has simplified the process for us. Even though they have not received advance payments, we have still been able to acquire transformers.
We are using this medium to call on the government to make funds available to us so we can deliver the project within the December 2024 benchmark.