Reps committee threatens demolition of structures on power transmission corridors
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The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets says churches, hotels, homes and state buildings erected on federal rights of way are delaying electricity projects, and has vowed to remove them.
The House of Representatives' Committee on Public Assets has threatened to demolish illegal structures erected on the federal government's rights of way for power transmission projects, warning that encroachment and vandalism are threatening investment in the electricity sector.
The committee's chairman, Kuye Ademorin, gave the warning during an inspection of the 132kV New Haven-Ninth Mile-Nsukka double circuit transmission line in Enugu State and the Egbu 330/132/33kV substation in Owerri, Imo State.
The committee said it found churches, hotels, private residences and even state government buildings erected along designated transmission routes, potentially delaying the completion of projects meant to improve electricity supply. Other lawmakers on the tour included Mark Obetta, Lanre Okunlola, Sani Rigo and Canice Nwachukwu, according to a statement by NDPHC spokesperson Nazo Agim.
Ademorin questioned how state authorities could approve developments along corridors already designated as federal government rights of way, describing the situation as a threat to critical national infrastructure, and warned that the National Assembly would take appropriate measures to ensure the structures are removed.
At the Egbu substation, the delegation was told the facility is about 85% complete and would add roughly 250 megawatts to the grid once finished. The committee urged the federal government to complete ongoing projects on time and pay contractors promptly, and called for adequate and timely compensation for landowners whose properties were acquired for public infrastructure.
The committee appealed to the governors of Enugu and Imo to work with the Niger Delta Power Holding Company to address encroachment and protect federal assets, and advised Nigerians to verify the ownership and status of land before buying, particularly around designated government rights of way.