Officials of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) have educated stakeholders and electricity consumers in Kaduna about the dangers of encroachment and vandalism, as part of a renewed effort to safeguard critical power infrastructure and ensure public safety.

The TCN hosted a sensitisation program in Kaduna on Monday to enlighten host communities about the dangers of building houses, shops, and other structures under transmission lines and the increasing threat of vandalism to power transmission lines.

The event, which drew the presence of traditional rulers, youth leaders, stakeholders, and other members of the public, forms part of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)’s directive and TCN’s broader commitment to tackling encroachment and infrastructure vandalism.

In his welcome address, Nasir Mansur Fada, General Manager of the Kaduna Region, TCN, emphasised the importance of community support in achieving uninterrupted power supply in the state and throughout Nigeria.

He said that new transformers have been installed in several locations, and numerous expansion and upgrade projects are currently ongoing, stressing that “these efforts can only succeed if host communities actively support the protection of power installations.

He said, “We are committed to delivering improved power supply, but this cannot be realised if our infrastructure is constantly under threat from vandals and illegal structures built under transmission lines.”

Additionally, to enhance public awareness, heads of key technical departments—including the System Lines and Electrical Departments—delivered presentations on the significant risks associated with encroachment on TCN’s right-of-way.

They explained how illegal structures hinder maintenance work and endanger the lives of residents living too close to high-voltage lines.

The Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Department also provided critical guidance on how to safeguard lives and property by avoiding transmission corridors. They emphasised that proximity to high-voltage equipment can lead to electrocution, fires, and other life-threatening hazards.

Additionally, to promote community vigilance, TCN provided dedicated hotline numbers to attendees: 07016839880, 09088380966, and 09088380967, urging the public to report any acts of vandalism or suspicious activity near transmission facilities.

“The community is our first line of defence,” a representative from the Public Affairs Department explained.
She said, “We are counting on traditional institutions, youth groups, and stakeholders to help us protect this infrastructure.”

Meanwhile, the sensitisation program was concluded with an interactive session, where participants shared local challenges and pledged their cooperation.

Community leaders lauded the initiative and expressed their willingness to collaborate with TCN to ensure a safer and more stable power supply.