by Fortune Oyem
Residents living around tower line areas in Edo State have been warned to desist from vandalising, excavating, or building under power transmission lines, as such activities remain major causes of national grid collapse.
The General Manager of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Benin Region, Engineer Charles Uwamadi, gave the warning during a sensitisation campaign in Umelu Community, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
Engineer Uwamadi explained that vandalism and illegal activities around tower lines frequently destabilise power transmission and lead to nationwide outages.
“Each time a tower is vandalised or weakened, the line vibrates beyond safe levels and trips off. This does not just affect Benin alone but the entire stretch of the line, such as the 131-kilometre Benin–Onitsha line. When this happens alongside another fault, it triggers system collapse,” he said.
He also cautioned residents against living or building under high-tension lines, stressing the health and safety risks.
“Staying under the towers exposes you to radiation hazards. If these lines snap, no human or structure can withstand the impact,” he warned.
Speaking at the event, the Edo State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Gbenga Agun, represented by the Head of Protection of Critical National Assets, Sule Mohammed, urged communities to support security agencies in protecting critical infrastructure.
“Government facilities in your area should be safeguarded. This regional output serves not only Edo but other states. Any tampering puts millions of Nigerians at risk,” he said.
A community representative thanked TCN for the sensitisation campaign but called for regular maintenance of the tower lines to enhance safety and security.
The event ended with the distribution of flyers highlighting the dangers of vandalism, excavation, and illegal construction under transmission lines, followed by an interactive session between TCN officials and residents.
Editing by Daniel Adejo
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