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By Daniel Adaji
Authorities in Bauchi State on Wednesday, 2026, enforced the statutory Right of Way (RoW) under high-tension transmission lines, demolishing illegal residential and commercial structures erected along the Zango and Yelwa communities in a move aimed at protecting Nigeria’s power infrastructure and public safety.
The demolition exercise, carried out by the Bauchi State Infrastructure Development and Maintenance Agency (BASIDMA), was witnessed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which had raised repeated concerns about encroachments on its transmission corridors.
In a statement on Thursday signed by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, TCN said, “The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) observed a demolition exercise conducted by the Bauchi State Infrastructure Development and Maintenance Agency (BASIDMA) on February 11, 2026, at the high-tension corridor along Zango and Yelwa Community in Bauchi.”
According to the company, the operation “targeted residential and commercial structures erected within the statutory Right of Way (RoW) of TCN transmission lines.”
The enforcement action followed months of stakeholder engagement and sensitisation spearheaded by TCN in 2025. The company said it had consistently warned that buildings under transmission lines pose serious risks to both grid stability and human life.
“This enforcement action was the culmination of sustained stakeholder engagements and sensitization programs initiated by TCN in 2025, aimed at addressing the risks associated with structures built within the transmission line corridor,” the statement said.
As part of those efforts, TCN convened a meeting in 2025 with BASIDMA, community leaders, the Bauchi Urban Planning Authority and youth representatives. At the meeting, it highlighted the dangers of erecting structures within transmission corridors and stressed the implications for national grid reliability.
BASIDMA, the agency responsible for regulating land use, controlling development and managing infrastructure in Bauchi State, acted after the engagements.
“BASIDMA, responsible for regulating land use, controlling development, and managing infrastructure in Bauchi State, took the decision to demolish the structures following these engagements,” TCN stated.
By pulling down the structures, the state authorities effectively reclaimed the transmission corridor, reinforcing regulations designed to prevent encroachment on critical national infrastructure.
TCN described the development as a milestone in safeguarding the grid and protecting residents from avoidable hazards.
“The demolition exercise marks a significant step in ensuring the integrity of Nigeria’s transmission infrastructure and protecting the public from potential hazards associated with structures built under high-tension transmission lines,” the statement added.
Transmission corridors are legally protected spaces beneath and around high-voltage lines, created to ensure safe power evacuation and prevent accidents. Encroachment on these corridors has, in several parts of the country, led to outages, infrastructure damage and safety incidents.
The company assured the public of its commitment to sustained engagement and enforcement measures nationwide to prevent further encroachments and strengthen the stability of the national grid.