TCN, Kano resolve dispute stalling power line completion

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Kano State Government have reached a critical agreement to resolve a long-standing legal dispute that has delayed the completion of the Kumbotso–Rimin Zakara 330kV transmission line.

The resolution was achieved during a high-level meeting held on July 21, 2025, convened by the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning to address key issues surrounding land ownership and compensation—the core causes of the litigation that had stalled progress on the power infrastructure project.

In a statement released on Friday, the General Manager of Public Affairs at TCN, Ndidi Mbah, confirmed that the agreement clears the path for the project’s long-awaited completion. Under the terms of the resolution, the Kano State Government will compensate individuals whose cases are still in court and provide alternative land to others who were impacted by the project.

According to Mbah:

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria, Kano Region, and the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning have reached a pivotal agreement to resolve legal disputes that had stalled the Kumbotso–Rimin Zakara 330kV transmission line project.

The meeting, held on July 21, 2025, was convened by the Ministry to address litigation surrounding land ownership and compensation, which had significantly delayed progress.”

She emphasized that the resolution removes the final legal and procedural barriers, paving the way for the swift continuation of construction work. Mbah described the breakthrough as a significant milestone that will enhance power supply and industrial development in northern Nigeria.

The Kumbotso–Rimin Zakara 330kV transmission line is a strategic infrastructure project aimed at boosting the electricity transmission capacity of the national grid and supporting economic growth across the region.

Vandal Electrocuted in Ebonyi While Attempting Power Infrastructure Sabotage

In a separate development, TCN reported a tragic case of vandalism on July 19, 2025, in Ebonyi State, where a vandal was electrocuted while attempting to tamper with a high-voltage transmission facility.

The incident occurred on Tower 34 along the Nkalagu–Abakaliki 132kV transmission line, the company confirmed.

“The body of the vandal, who was electrocuted while trying to vandalise the tower, has been recovered,” TCN stated.

The company used the opportunity to once again warn the public about the severe dangers of tampering with high-voltage power infrastructure, noting the safety hazards and criminal implications of such acts.

“The public is urged to safeguard power installations in their communities and promptly report suspicious activity to security agencies or the nearest TCN office,” the statement added.

Rising Vandalism Remains a National Concern

Vandalism of power infrastructure remains a serious challenge in Nigeria. In January 2025, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed that the Federal Government had spent over ₦9 billion to repair and restore vandalised transmission and distribution infrastructure in the northern part of the country during 2024 alone.

The growing frequency of such incidents has raised concerns among stakeholders, who continue to call for stronger community surveillance, stricter enforcement, and public awareness campaigns to protect national electricity assets.