TCN Seeks Community Partnership to Protect Power Infrastructure in Imo

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….As Over 100 Stakeholders Pledge Support Against Vandalism, Right-of-Way Violations

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has intensified its campaign to safeguard critical electricity infrastructure by mobilising host communities in Owerri, Imo State, to combat vandalism and enforce compliance with statutory Right-of-Way (RoW) regulations.

The sensitisation programme, held on June 25, 2026, brought together traditional rulers, youth leaders, local government officials and community stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in protecting Nigeria’s power transmission assets.

Speaking at the event, the Assistant General Manager, Technical Services, Port Harcourt Region, Dr. Raymond Chika Ubani, described TCN as the backbone of the country’s electricity supply chain, responsible for transmitting bulk electricity from generation companies to distribution companies.

According to him, TCN’s role is akin to a transport company conveying manufactured goods from factories to warehouses where distributors collect them for onward distribution to consumers.

“Simply speaking, we are like the trailer that goes to a company to carry manufactured goods to a warehouse where distributors then come to take the goods for distribution,” he said.

Dr. Ubani urged traditional institutions, community leaders and youth groups to become active custodians of transmission facilities by remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activities around electricity installations.

He noted that vandalism of power infrastructure not only disrupts electricity supply but also imposes huge financial burdens on the government and negatively impacts economic activities and business growth.

Also speaking, the Principal Manager, Owerri Work Centre, Engr. Nnaemeka Aninwe, warned residents against patronising scrap dealers who buy and resell vandalised transmission tower components.

He further cautioned communities against turning transmission tower bases into refuse dumps, explaining that accumulated waste can trigger corrosive chemical reactions capable of weakening tower structures and threatening their stability.

The TCN official also advised residents and developers to verify safety distances before embarking on building projects near transmission lines and towers.

He reiterated that the statutory Right-of-Way requires a minimum clearance of 15 metres on both sides of 132kV transmission lines and 30 metres on both sides of 330kV transmission lines.

Responding on behalf of the host communities, the Deputy Chairman of Owerri Municipal Council, Hon. Lucky Abaraonye, assured TCN of the council’s commitment to combating infrastructure vandalism through the grassroots security framework established by the Imo State Government.

He disclosed that trained 15-man security teams equipped with operational vehicles have been deployed across the 21 autonomous communities in the area to enhance surveillance and protect public infrastructure.

At the end of the sensitisation programme, more than 100 participants pledged to work closely with TCN and security agencies to safeguard transmission facilities within their communities.

The initiative is part of TCN’s broader strategy to strengthen community participation in protecting critical national infrastructure and ensuring the stability of Nigeria’s electricity transmission network, a key requirement for industrial growth, investment and sustainable economic development.

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