Federal Government Announces Demolition of 355 Buildings in Anambra for Alaoji–Onitsha Transmission Line Upgrade
The Federal Government, through the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has revealed plans to demolish approximately 355 buildings across parts of Anambra State to facilitate the reconstruction and upgrade of the Alaoji–Onitsha 330kV transmission line, a key project funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The announcement came during a stakeholder engagement meeting held in Awka on Friday, January 9, 2026, involving representatives from the Anambra State Government, traditional rulers, non-governmental organizations, TCN officials, and BGM Limited, the consulting firm handling the project.
The upgrade aims to transform the existing single-circuit line into a quad-circuit configuration using advanced conductors, significantly increasing transmission capacity — from around 100MW to potentially 1,000MW — and improving power reliability across the Southeast region, particularly in Abia, Imo, and Anambra states.
Project Manager and Assistant General Manager at TCN, Engineer Omobola Oluwaseun Sogo (also referred to as Omobola Sobo in official statements), emphasized the project's long-term benefits, describing it as a "lifetime opportunity" for the region. She noted that compensation for affected properties in the North stands at about N1.8 billion, while the Southeast region will receive over N12 billion in total. In Anambra State alone, compensation is projected to account for roughly half of the Southeast allocation, amounting to about N6.5 billion for impacted individuals, families, and businesses.
"The Federal Government has already made available part of the funds for compensation, and once the communities involved come to terms with our discussions, we’re good to go," Sogo stated. She urged stakeholders not to let disagreements derail the initiative, warning that it could be redirected to another zone if consensus is not reached.
Basil Uzodinma, Managing Director of BGM Limited, confirmed that the line corridor will traverse 15 communities in about three local government areas of Anambra State. He highlighted the need to address encroachments on the right-of-way, which have contributed to past power instability.
Ifeanyi Okonkwo, Assistant General Manager in charge of TCN's Anambra operations, described the project as a longstanding effort now advancing toward implementation. "It’s going to impact positively on our people if actualized because anything we’re doing without power may not succeed," he said, adding that enhanced transmission from Alaoji in Aba would boost business activity and end chronic power shortages in the zone.
The sensitization exercise, part of broader engagements from January 6 to 8, 2026, across 12 local government areas in Abia, Imo, and Anambra, focused on Project Affected Persons (PAPs). TCN assured that compensation would follow approved guidelines after final verification, with collaboration from PGM Nigeria Limited for the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) implementation.
The project is expected to enhance electricity supply reliability, support economic growth, and reverse the relocation of businesses due to inconsistent power. No immediate timeline for demolitions was provided, pending community agreements.
As preparations continue, TCN and partners have called for cooperation to ensure the initiative proceeds smoothly and delivers lasting benefits to the Southeast.
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