The House of Representatives has threatened to demolish churches, hotels, private residences and other structures illegally erected on Federal Government rights of way designated for power transmission projects.
The Chairman, House Committee on Public Assets, Hon. Kuye Ademorin, said the National Assembly will take decisive action against illegal occupants of government land, warning that encroachment and vandalism are putting billions of naira in public investments at risk.
Ademorin gave the warning during an inspection tour 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.
Other lawmakers on the tour included Mark Obetta, Lanre Okunlola, Sani Rigo and Canice Moore Nwachukwu.
According to a statement issued Friday by the General Manager, Corporate Communication of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Nazo Agim, the committee discovered several buildings constructed directly along designated transmission routes.
Ademorin expressed disappointment:
“We observed the magnitude of investment by the Federal Government in building a sustainable power system for the country… However, to our chagrin and disappointment, we saw a people who are not totally buying into the vision of a greater country for all of us.”
He questioned how state authorities could approve buildings on such locations and warned:
“It is not going to be business as usual. We are going to take drastic, appropriate steps to ensure that those structures are removed.”
The committee commended work at the Egbu substation, which NDPHC says is 85% complete and expected by March 2027. The facility will add 250 megawatts to Imo State and improve power to Orlu axis.
The project, first awarded in 2006, has received renewed push under NDPHC MD/CEO Jennifer Adighije.
Ademorin urged governors of Enugu and Imo to collaborate with NDPHC to clear encroachments, called for prompt payment to contractors and compensation to landowners to avoid litigation.
He also warned Nigerians to conduct proper searches before buying land, as many unsuspecting buyers are buying plots inside approved Federal Government rights of way and risk losing their investments.
