By Wilson Adekumola
The Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has ordered owners of illegal structures under high-tension cables to quit and move to different locations of the state for safety purposes.
The directive is contained in statement issued by the General Manger of LASBCA, Arc. Gbolahan Oki where he told Lagosians to be cautious of the electromagnetic radiation that emits from the unlawful practice.
The statement read in part, “The Sate Urban and Regional planning and Development Law do not only prohibit building under overhead electricity wires but also specified the distance that should be observed between a property and a public utility such as the PHCN high tension cables.”
It stated further that, “Safety and protection of lives are the most important issue here and we must not let urbanisation rob us of these.
“Please ensure your building are not under high-tension wires and desist from doing business in unauthorised places like under PHCN Power lines. I advise you to relocate if you are already occupying a structure in an unauthorised location.”
Oki affirmed that unwarranted practice is not only detrimental to lives of the occupants and others but also violates the provisions of the Sate Urban and Regional Planning and Development law.
He maintained that building erected under high-tension electricity cables pose serious concerns to the state Government, adding that the State Government will leave no stone unturned to frown on the harmful practice posing a risk to residents of the State.
Arc. Oki disclosed that the agency will soon swing into action to enforce the relevant laws of the state upon the expiration of the ultimatum already given, saying that no building is worth the life of any resident of the state.
He explained furthter that the erection of shops, offices, and residential houses under the high-tension cables is inimical to lives and properties and should be reported to the agency by concerned residents in order to avert any danger.
Reacting, an hair dresser, that occupied a shop at Olanike Ajayi Street, Powerline, off AIT Road, Lagos, who does not want her name in print, said, “The order will definitely affect us because this is where I earn my living.
“But if government is actually going to enforce its order at the expiration of the ultimatum it will affect us, but government should make provision for us because the economic situation is hard.”
She said not that she is happy that she rented a shop under high-tension, “it’s because it is cheap unlike the shops you have in a better location.
“I know it is for our own safety but then government should make provision for alternative.”
She stated further that, “If this place is eventually destroyed, how do I feed my family? I don’t have money to rent all these expensive shops.
“Government should just have mercy on us by moving us to a safe place to continue our job.”
Tailor who lives at Onigbanjo, Powerline, via coca cola B/Stop, Mrs. Johnson said that most of them are not even aware of this law adding that if government must carry out its legitimately duty, it must also care for the citizens by ensuring enabling environment.
“Most of us are not even aware of this law but we cannot stop government from carrying out legitimate duty but they must provision for a better location.”
In his own words, an automobile engineer, Mr Peter Kokeosho was unperturbed with the LASBCA order saying they have relevant documents that permit them to work under the high tension during the day.
“If government wants us to quit here, there must be official notice because we have relevant documents allowing us to work here in the day and leave. The area is called ‘mechanic village’ and it is non-residential.”
He lamented that government has in recent past destroyed ‘mechanic village’ saying this is not good enough for their being.
He, however, said if the directive does not exonerate them as expected government should then intervene.