By Izunna Okafor, Awka
FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited has intensified its public safety awareness campaign across Anambra State, warning residents, traders, landlords and developers against the growing practice of trading, building and carrying out other activities within electricity power line right-of-ways.
The latest sensitization exercise, which held on Wednesday at Aroma Junction and Eke Awka Market in Awka the state capital, followed observations by the company that many people continue to occupy and carry out commercial activities directly beneath 66KV, 33KV and 11KV power lines despite the obvious dangers associated with such actions.
Checks by the company revealed high level of encroachment on electricity corridors across different parts of the state capital and beyond, with traders displaying wares under high-tension lines, while shanties, makeshift containers, residential buildings and commercial structures were found dangerously located within or close to designated power line right-of-ways.
Leading the safety awareness campaign, the FirstPower Head of Health, Safety and Environment FirstPower, Engr. Tosin Caleb Fadairo, described the violation as one of the major causes of electrical accidents and safety incidents recorded within the company’s network in recent times.
Addressing traders and residents during the exercise, Fadairo explained that electricity distribution, though essential, comes with inherent risks that require strict compliance with safety standards.
According to him, power lines may snap, sag or fall as a result of storms, equipment failure, road traffic accidents that affect electricity poles, tree interference and other unforeseen circumstances, warning that persons carrying out activities beneath such installations are usually the most vulnerable whenever such incidents occur.
Engr. Tosin further noted that encroachment by buildings, structures and vegetation often interferes with electricity infrastructure, causes faults and outages, damages equipment worth hundreds of millions of naira and negatively affects power supply to customers.
The FirstPower safety chief disclosed that the company had repeatedly sensitized occupants of the affected locations, revealing that the latest sensitization at Aroma Junction was at least the third of such exercise at that junction by the company’s team this year alone.
According to him, some persons had previously suffered serious electric shocks around the location following electrical incidents involving overhead lines, yet some of the affected individuals have returned to continue trading under the same high-tension installations.
Engr. Fadairo stressed that the minimum safety clearance from high-tension lines remains 5.5 metres, equivalent to about eleven steps, even as he urged the violating traders and other occupants to immediately remove their wares and relocate from the affected areas.
While some of the traders complied immediately after the sensitization exercise, others expressed reluctance, arguing that they had no alternative locations to carry out their businesses.
Responding, Engr. Fadairo maintained that no business is worth risking human life, emphasizing that safety must always take precedence over economic considerations.
The FirstPower team also informed the occupants that lands traversed by electricity right-of-ways were duly compensated before the installation of the power infrastructure, warning that encroachment on such corridors is unlawful and punishable under relevant regulations.
Fielding questions from journalists, Engr. Fadairo also disclosed that FirstPower had previously written to the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) and the Anambra State Physical Planning Board (ANSPPB), drawing attention to the increasing encroachment on electricity corridors and seeking stronger enforcement against the violations. He said, while awaiting the expected intensified enforcement by the government agencies against such violations, the FirstPower Team found the need to also intensify its safety awareness campaign and safety engagement with the public.
He added that the problem is not peculiar to Awka, noting that similar violations exist across virtually all feeders and operational areas of the company within Anambra State.
Fadairo also informed the people that FirstPower has the right and legal backup to disconnect electricity supply to buildings and premises linked to persistent violations if compliance is not achieved after repeated warnings and sensitization efforts.
He also clarified that the intensified safety campaign, endorsed by the MD/CEO of FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company, Engr. Okechukwu Okafor, and which is being carried out in line with the safety guidelines of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), is also ongoing across the state as part of the company’s commitment to safeguarding lives, protecting electricity infrastructure and promoting a stronger safety culture among residents.
Also present during the exercise were the FirstPower Head of Security, Mr. Sam Uduak; Head of Regulatory, Mrs. Ngozi Mbah; and some other members of the company’s Safety Department, who all joined in sensitization the people, as well as distributing safety awareness materials and copies of NEMSA’s directive authorizing the disconnection of structures, buildings and premises located directly under overhead power lines or within designated transmission and distribution right-of-ways.
More photos from the exercise:
