The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has cautioned residents of Kaduna State to stop erecting structures beneath high-tension electricity lines and vandalising critical power infrastructure.
The warning was issued during a stakeholder meeting in Kaduna, which brought together traditional rulers, security agencies, and community leaders.
TCN officials raised concerns over the increasing encroachment on powerline corridors, describing the trend as dangerous and disruptive to electricity distribution and maintenance operations. They also decried repeated vandalism of transformers and transmission lines in various parts of the state.
Engineer Nasir Mansur-Fada, TCN’s General Manager in the Kaduna Region, said the company is currently upgrading its transmission infrastructure, including the installation of new transformers. He, however, lamented that illegal developments and sabotage continue to undermine these efforts.
Technical experts at the event warned that unauthorised structures obstruct safety inspections, pose a risk of electrocution, and could trigger electrical fires.
Kenneth John, Senior Manager of Health, Safety and Environment at TCN, advised residents to avoid turning power corridors into markets or residential areas, stressing the safety implications.
Responding on behalf of traditional leaders, Sarkin Mando, Alhaji Sani Musa, pledged to raise awareness in local communities. “We will educate our people. Tampering with transmission lines only brings more suffering through prolonged blackouts,” he said.
