Reps Threaten to Demolish Churches, Hotels, Homes Built on Power Transmission Corridors

The House of Representatives has threatened to demolish churches, hotels, private residences and other structures allegedly built illegally on Federal Government land reserved for power transmission projects across Nigeria.

The lawmakers warned that continued encroachment and vandalism were threatening critical electricity infrastructure and putting billions of naira in public investments at risk.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Public Assets, 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.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company’s General Manager of Corporate Communication and External Relations, Nazo Agim, the committee discovered several buildings along designated transmission routes.

Ademorin expressed disappointment that individuals and institutions continued to construct buildings on land reserved for critical national infrastructure. He also questioned how state authorities could approve developments in areas designated as Federal Government rights of way.

He warned that the National Assembly would take decisive action to address the encroachment and protect public assets.

“It is not going to be business as usual. We are going to take drastic, appropriate steps to ensure that those structures are removed,” he said.

Other lawmakers on the inspection tour included Mark Obetta, Lanre Okunlola, Sani Rigo and Canice Moore Nwachukwu. The committee also called for stronger cooperation between federal and state governments to remove obstacles affecting the projects.

Ademorin urged the government to prioritise the completion of ongoing electricity infrastructure, ensure contractors received prompt payments and compensate landowners whose properties had been acquired for public projects. He said timely compensation could prevent disputes and prolonged litigation capable of delaying construction.

The lawmaker commended work at the Egbu substation, which the NDPHC said was about 85 per cent complete and expected to be delivered around March 2027. The facility is projected to add approximately 250 megawatts to electricity supply in Imo State and improve power delivery to communities in the Orlu area.

The project, first awarded in 2006, has received renewed attention under the leadership of NDPHC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Adighije.

Ademorin expressed optimism that completing the facility would improve electricity supply, encourage industrial activities and create employment opportunities across the South-East. He also appealed to the governors of Enugu and Imo states to work with the NDPHC to resolve issues, particularly the encroachment on transmission corridors.

He advised Nigerians to investigate land ownership and government acquisition records before purchasing property, warning that buyers could lose their investments if they acquire plots located within approved rights of way.

The lawmaker said protecting the transmission projects would support industrialisation, job creation, improved security and lasting peace in the region.