Precious Nwonu, Enugu
The House of Representatives has warned that churches, hotels, residential buildings and other structures erected illegally along government-designated power transmission corridors will be demolished to protect critical electricity projects.
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 by the General Manager of Corporate Communication and External Relations at the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Nazo Agim, the lawmakers discovered several buildings constructed on land reserved for the transmission projects.
Ademorin said the encroachment and vandalism of public infrastructure were threatening billions of naira invested by the Federal Government in expanding electricity supply.
He expressed concern that individuals and institutions continued to build on designated government rights of way despite the importance of the projects to the country’s power sector.
The lawmaker also questioned how buildings could receive approval from state authorities when they were located along corridors reserved for national infrastructure.
He said the committee would work with relevant agencies to address the situation and ensure that public assets were protected.
“It is not going to be business as usual. We are going to take drastic, appropriate steps to ensure that those structures are removed,” Ademorin warned.
Other lawmakers who participated in the inspection included Mark Obetta, Lanre Okunlola, Sani Rigo and Canice Moore Nwachukwu.
The committee chairman called for stronger collaboration between federal and state governments to resolve issues delaying the projects.
He also urged the government to ensure that contractors received timely payments and that property owners whose land had been acquired for public infrastructure were adequately compensated.
According to him, prompt compensation would reduce disputes and court cases capable of delaying project delivery.
Ademorin commended the progress recorded at the Egbu substation, which the NDPHC said was approximately 85 per cent complete, with delivery expected around March 2027.
The facility is expected to contribute about 250 megawatts to electricity supply in Imo State and improve power distribution to communities in the Orlu area.
The substation project was initially awarded in 2006 but has received renewed attention under the leadership of NDPHC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Adighije.
Ademorin said completing the facility would support industrial development, create employment opportunities and improve electricity supply across the South-East.
He appealed to the governors of Enugu and Imo states to work with the NDPHC to remove obstacles affecting the projects, particularly illegal developments along transmission corridors.
The lawmaker also advised members of the public to verify land ownership and government acquisition records before purchasing property, warning that investments in plots located within approved rights of way could be lost if the structures were removed.
He maintained that protecting the transmission routes and completing the projects would contribute to industrialisation, job creation, improved security and development in the region.
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