TCN Seeks Community Support to Protect Power Infrastructure

From Abdullahi Abdulrahaman, Gusau

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has warned residents of Kebbi State against building structures beneath high-voltage transmission lines and vandalising electricity infrastructure, citing the dangers to human lives and the risk of power disruptions.

The warning was issued during a stakeholder sensitisation programme organised by TCN in Birnin Kebbi to educate residents on the dangers of encroaching on transmission rights-of-way and the consequences of damaging critical electricity infrastructure.

The programme, held at City Guest Hotel, Birnin Kebbi, attracted representatives of host communities, traditional institutions, youth groups, security agencies, government establishments and the media.

Speaking at the event, the Assistant General Manager of TCN’s Birnin Kebbi Sub-Region, Engr. Hassan Mustapha Aleiro, said community participation was essential to protecting power infrastructure and sustaining improvements in electricity transmission.

Aleiro said TCN had installed new transformers in several locations and was implementing expansion and upgrade projects to strengthen the transmission network.

He, however, warned that continued vandalism and encroachment could undermine the investments and disrupt efforts to improve electricity transmission.

“We have installed new transformers in several locations and are executing multiple expansion and upgrade projects. But all these will be in vain if vandalism and encroachment continue unchecked,” he said.

He explained that constructing buildings and other structures within transmission line corridors posed serious safety risks, restricted access for maintenance and exposed residents to potentially fatal electrical hazards.

The TCN official urged community leaders and residents to respect designated transmission corridors and promptly report suspicious activities around the company’s installations.

Officials from TCN’s Systems Operations, Lines and Electrical departments also highlighted the consequences of encroachment and vandalism, including damage to transmission facilities, interruptions to electricity supply and delays in restoring damaged infrastructure.

They stressed the need to keep transmission corridors free of obstructions to allow personnel to conduct inspections, routine maintenance and emergency repairs safely and efficiently.

The company’s Health, Safety and Environment Department also educated participants on the dangers of living or conducting activities close to high-voltage facilities, including electrocution, electrical accidents and fire outbreaks that could result in loss of lives and property.

Security agencies and other stakeholders at the programme pledged the importance of collective efforts to prevent attacks on electricity infrastructure and improve the protection of transmission facilities.

Those in attendance included the General Manager of the Kebbi Urban Development Agency, Alhaji Aminu Umar; the Police Public Relations Officer and spokesperson for the Kebbi State Police Command, SP Bashir Usman; SD Saidu A. Rumu of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; and DC Lawal Muhammed Augie of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria in Kebbi State.

As part of the initiative, TCN distributed designated contact hotlines to enable members of the public to report suspected vandalism, suspicious movements and other activities that could threaten its installations.

The company said the measure was intended to strengthen information-sharing among host communities, security agencies and TCN, thereby enabling timely responses to potential threats.

TCN reiterated that protecting electricity infrastructure was a shared responsibility and urged residents, traditional institutions and community leaders to remain vigilant, avoid activities that could endanger transmission facilities and report suspected cases of vandalism or encroachment through the appropriate channels.