The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Kano State Government have finally resolved a lingering legal dispute that stalled the completion of the Kumbotso–Rimin Zakara 330kV transmission line project, a major electricity infrastructure designed to improve power supply in Northern Nigeria.
The resolution followed a high-level meeting on July 21, 2025, convened by the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning, to address disagreements over land ownership and compensation claims.
According to a statement by TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the agreement removes the final legal obstacles delaying the strategic power project, which has been described as crucial for enhancing national grid capacity and industrial growth in the North.
Under the new terms, the Kano State Government will compensate individuals still pursuing legal claims in court and provide alternative land for other affected property owners.
“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,” Mbah said.
She expressed optimism that work on the transmission line would now progress swiftly, enabling its completion within the projected timeline.
The Kumbotso–Rimin Zakara 330kV transmission line, once completed, is expected to:
Increase the transmission capacity of the national grid.
Support industrial development by providing more stable electricity to Kano, a key commercial hub in Northern Nigeria.
Boost economic growth by attracting investments dependent on reliable power supply.
Energy analysts say the resolution of this dispute is a “significant win” for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which has promised to strengthen Nigeria’s transmission and distribution infrastructure under the Presidential Power Initiative.
Meanwhile, TCN has raised fresh concerns about vandalism of critical power infrastructure, reporting that a vandal was electrocuted on July 19, 2025, while attempting to sabotage a high-voltage facility in Ebonyi State.
The incident occurred on Tower 34 along the Nkalagu–Abakaliki 132kV transmission line. TCN confirmed that the vandal’s body has been recovered and reiterated warnings about the dangers of tampering with live power installations.
“The public is urged to safeguard power installations in their communities and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies or the nearest TCN office,” the company stated.
Vandalism of transmission lines has cost the government billions of naira in repairs. In January 2025, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, revealed that over N9 billion was spent in 2024 to restore vandalised power infrastructure in Northern Nigeria alone.
With the legal hurdles now cleared, construction work on the Kumbotso–Rimin Zakara line is expected to resume immediately. If completed on schedule, the project could significantly improve electricity transmission, reduce outages, and stimulate economic activities in Kano and surrounding states.
However, experts caution that unless vandalism is curbed and power sector reforms are sustained, Nigeria’s transmission challenges may persist despite ongoing infrastructure upgrades.