The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets inspected two transmission projects of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company in early October 2026 and reported that churches, hotels, private residences and state government buildings have been erected along the designated right‑of‑way, jeopardising the projects and prompting a warning that illegal structures will be removed.
What did the committee observe?
- The team visited the 132kV New Haven‑Ninth Mile‑Nsukka double‑circuit line in Enugu State and the Egbu 330/132/33kV substation in Owerri, Imo State.
- Committee chairman Hon. Kuye Ademorin, together with Hon. Mark Obetta, Hon. Lanre Okunlola, Hon. Sani Rigo and Hon. Canice Moore Nwachukwu, noted that a range of private and public edifices now line the transmission corridors.
- The substation is reported to be about 85 % complete and is expected to add roughly 250 MW to Imo’s grid, with a projected commissioning date around March 2027.
- The Federal Government’s rights‑of‑way, established under national law, have been ignored, raising concerns about project delays and the safety of public assets.
Why is the encroachment a problem?
Ademorin warned that the illegal occupation undermines the Federal Government’s investment in a sustainable power system, hampers industrial development and invites further vandalism. “We observed the magnitude of investment by the Federal Government in building a sustainable power system for the country, particularly in our states, to help them develop their industrial base through adequate power supply. However, to our chagrin and disappointment, we saw a people who are not totally buying into the vision of a greater country for all of us,” he said.
How will the projects affect the region?
The completed substation will boost electricity supply to the Orlu area and support broader industrialisation in the South‑East, creating jobs, improving security and fostering peace. The managing director and chief executive officer of NDPHC, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, has overseen renewed focus on the project since its original award in 2006.
What actions are being proposed?
The committee called for tighter cooperation between federal and state authorities to clear the encroachments, protect the infrastructure and ensure timely payment to contractors. It also urged prompt compensation for landowners to avoid litigation, and advised Nigerians to verify land ownership before purchase to avoid acquiring plots within government‑approved rights‑of‑way.
The lawmakers concluded that the government will not tolerate “business as usual” and pledged to take “drastic, appropriate steps” to remove the illegal structures, safeguarding the nation’s power assets.