Anambra State High Court: TCN Must Relocate Power Line Project

• Ebenesi Community in Anambra State protests planned demolition of their ancestral homes for power line project.
• Community members demand alternative arrangements, citing concerns about displacement and preservation of cultural heritage.
• The dispute has raised questions about the role of the Anambra State Physical Planning Board in the project's implementation.

We will relocate to anywhere in this Nnobi if they provide a place for us. We are not actually against development projects and infrastructure, but what we are saying is that in providing such infrastructure, the people that will enjoy them must live to enjoy them.

A long-standing dispute between Ebenesi Community in Anambra State and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has escalated into a heated protest, with residents demanding that their ancestral homes be spared from demolition. The community's opposition to the project is centered around the fact that no alternative arrangements have been made for affected residents, who are being given a 14-day notice to vacate their homes. This has led to concerns about the potential displacement of hundreds of people, many of whom have lived in the area for over 200 years. The community's Chairman, Chief Okechukwu Oraka, emphasized that they are not opposed to development projects per se, but rather object to the routing of the power line project through Nnobi without any consideration for the residents' well-being.

The dispute has raised questions about the role of the Anambra State Physical Planning Board in the project's implementation. According to Oraka, the board had marked over 100 houses for demolition without providing any alternative arrangements for affected residents. This has led to allegations that the government is forcing the community to vacate their ancestral homes with no plan to relocate them. The community members also pointed out that the power line project was originally planned to pass through other areas, but was diverted to Nnobi allegedly due to 'foul means'. They are now demanding that the Federal and state governments intervene in the matter and consider alternative arrangements for the project.

The dispute over the power line project has significant implications for the community, particularly with regards to their ancestral rights and the potential displacement of hundreds of people. The community's Chairman emphasized that they are willing to relocate if provided with a suitable alternative, but stressed that the government should consider the long-term consequences of its actions. As one resident noted, 'there is no man who owns an ancestral land that didn’t get it from his father'. This highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage and community rights in development projects.

Lawyers advising clients in Anambra State should be aware of the potential for government-led demolitions and ensure their clients are prepared to relocate or seek alternative arrangements, as seen in this case where residents were given a 14-day notice to vacate their ancestral homes.

Source: Original reporting via Anambra community protests planned demolition of houses for power project