The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said it spent N1.28 billion on solar-powered streetlight schemes in May and June 2026, despite such projects falling outside its statutory responsibilities.
In a statement released on Saturday, TCN spokesperson Ndidi Mbah said the spending followed the inclusion of the schemes in the federal government’s approved 2026 Appropriation Act as National Assembly constituency projects.
TCN said it did not propose or commission the projects. Rather, the National Assembly added them to the company’s capital budget, while the relevant authorities appointed TCN to oversee their implementation under established government procedures.
The company also stressed that the money used was not sourced from TCN or its Internally Generated Revenue. It said the funds were federal budget allocations approved by the President.
Although TCN’s primary legal role is the transmission of bulk electricity, the company said it may carry out constituency initiatives and other federal projects when formally assigned to do so. Such work, it added, should not be viewed as a departure from its central function of moving bulk power across Nigeria.
