By Bisola Adeyemo
The House of Representatives has ordered the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and other relevant agencies to begin demolition exercise as soon as possible of all buildings and structures built under high tension electric cables all over the country.
The House also urged the Ministry of Power to ensure the maintenance of high tension cables as they are time bound and carry out repairs and maintenance.
According to this day,the resolutions of the House followed the adoption of a motion titled, ‘The need to enforce the law forbidding erection of buildings and structures under high tension electric cables’ moved by Hon. Musibau Kolawole at plenary on Wednesday.
Moving the motion, Hon. Kolawole decried the indiscriminate and unlawful erection of buildings under high tension electric cables all over the country, as well as commercial activities taking place on the right of way of the high tension electric cables.
He noted that there are existing laws that forbid the erection of buildings under electric high tension wires which specify a 50-meter distance between power lines and buildings.
He added that there are laid down safety standards for electric installations in the country and the efforts of the NEMSA towards reducing electricity accidents all over the country.
Kolawole expressed worry that people build and transact businesses under 33KVA power transmission lines and therefore susceptible to be electrocuted as many Nigerians had met their untimely deaths as a result of either doing business or building under high tension electric cables which are not maintained and have not been changed over the years since they were installed.
The House resolved: “The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency and other relevant agencies to, as a matter of urgency, demolish all buildings and structures under high tension electric cables all over the country.”
It also mandated the Committee on Power to ensure implementation.