The Transmission Company of Nigeria has demolished illegal structures encroaching on its transmission line Right of Way in parts of Enugu State, citing safety concerns and the need to protect critical power infrastructure.
The exercise, carried out on Saturday, affected fences and other buildings erected dangerously close to Tower 31 on the Ugwuaji–Makurdi 330 kilovolt double circuit transmission line at Akpuoga Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area. TCN said the structures posed a direct threat to the integrity of the power line and to residents living nearby.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, said the removals were part of ongoing efforts to safeguard transmission assets and ensure public safety. She explained that similar structures were also pulled down along the corridor of a 132kV transmission line in the area after assessments showed they obstructed maintenance access and created serious safety hazards.
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Mbah said the company had repeatedly warned residents, traders, and property owners against carrying out activities within transmission line corridors. According to her, TCN had embarked on sustained sensitisation campaigns to educate the public on the dangers of building or trading under high-voltage power lines and the legal implications of encroachment.
She described the demolition as unavoidable, stressing that it was necessary to prevent accidents, protect lives and property, and guarantee unhindered access for engineers and linesmen during routine inspections and emergency repairs. The company, she added, remains committed to enforcing its right of way nationwide to reduce the risk of power outages and infrastructure damage.
TCN urged members of the public to cooperate with safety guidelines and avoid erecting structures within transmission corridors, warning that any future encroachment would attract similar enforcement actions as the company intensifies efforts to secure Nigeria’s power transmission network.
