Anambra community protests TCN demolition

Residents of Ebenesi Community in Nnobi, Idemili South Local Government Area of Nigeria — Anambra State, Nigeria, staged a protest on Tuesday against the planned demolition of their ancestral homes to make way for a power transmission line project by the Nigeria — Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). The protesters, led by community chairman Okechukwu Oraka, alleged that officials of the Nigeria — Anambra State Physical Planning Board had marked houses for demolition and issued a 14-day ultimatum to landlords to demolish their own homes or face government demolition at their own expense. They claimed that more than six elders had collapsed and died following the marking of homes, and that no relocation plan had been provided. The community appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Charles Soludo to intervene, and proposed that the power lines be routed underground or the project relocated. The Nigeria — Anambra State Physical Planning Board official Cletus Ohame defended the demolition notices, stating that the area had been earmarked for the project for many years. The protest was peaceful, and traditional ruler Nick Obi and President-General Aloy Olubialu assured the protesters that their grievances would be communicated to authorities.