Immediate Past Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ibadan branch, Engr. Ibraheem Folarin Bello, has recommended infrastructure boost for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) through the installation of a second 330 kV gateway to Ibadan in order to enhance the performance of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
Bello, stated this while featuring as the Guest Speaker during the 32nd annual Arokodare memorial lecture held at Otunba Subomi Balogun Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
Delivering the lecture, titled: *’Oyo State Electricity: Past, Present And Future’* he noted that electricity in Oyo State has moved between 2013 and 2026, from reliance on a privatised distribution framework towards a more decentralised model involving state regulation, independent generation and renewable energy initiatives.
He added that the afrorementioned are significant steps, but the gap between demand and dependable supply remains the central challenge. He said that coordinated action across the entire value chain is needed.
This, he said include immediate priorities to improve IBEDC’s distribution performance, strengthen TCN’s transmission infrastructure (above all, by securing a second 330 kV gateway to Ibadan and upgrade TCN Ayede Sub-Region to a new Region based on its current capacity and 132kv stations), bring independent power projects into reliable operation, expand rural electrification and ensure effective regulation by the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Agency (OSERC).
He said these interventions must rest on technical studies, sustainable financing, transparent procurement, competent engineering supervision and measurable accountability. “The lesson of nearly a century and a half of electricity in Nigeria, from the 60-kilowatt plant in Lagos to the state markets of today, is that structures matter but results matter more.
“Ethically, every reform must ensure that the people experience more hours of reliable electricity, fewer outages, better voltage, fair billing and wider access in their homes, businesses, industries and public institutions for proper development as expected,” he concluded.