TCN Removes Encroachments on Ihovbor-Ajaokuta 330kV Line

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Benin Region has cleared illegal structures encroaching on its new Ihovbor–Ajaokuta 330kV Transmission Line in Ihovbor Community.
TCN general manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, stated on Wednesday that the two-day operation ran from Wednesday, February 18, to Friday, February 20, 2026, targeted at reclaiming TCN’s Right of Way (ROW) along the transmission corridor to protect lives, property, and critical power infrastructure.
Ahead of the exercise, TCN conducted sensitisation programs on encroachment risks, issued a three-month notice to the community, and compensated affected individuals.

The clearance team from TCN’s Abuja Corporate headquarters collaborated with the Property Department. Traditional rulers, youth leaders, and other stakeholders were informed in advance.
Mbah emphasised the necessity of the action to safeguard the transmission line.

This transmission line is a key part of Nigeria’s national grid expansion under the Presidential Transmission Line Evacuation Project. It connects the Ihovbor Gas Plant in Edo State to the Ajaokuta Steel Complex in Kogi State, enabling efficient power evacuation from gas-fired generation to northern regions. Funded partly by the World Bank and African Development Bank, the 208km double-circuit line boosts grid stability amid Nigeria’s chronic power shortages, targeting up to 1,000MW capacity once fully operational.

Encroachments like farms, buildings, and informal settlements plague Nigeria’s transmission corridors, risking faults, outages, and safety hazards from proximity to high-voltage lines (330kV carries extreme voltages).
TCN routinely clears ROWs nationwide—typically 30-46m wide per regulatory standards—to comply with Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) rules.
LEADERSHIP reports that similar operations occurred in 2025 along Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos corridors, often sparking community tensions resolved via compensation and notices.