Expert warns against constructing houses under high tension power lines

Mr. Gabriel Egede, a Safety expert has advised the general public to stop building houses under high tension power lines because of its health hazards.

Egede gave the advice in an interview on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to him, operating under high tension does not only pose health hazard but death due to power cut.

No fewer than 30 people lost their lives in the year 2017 in Calabar as a result of a high tension cable that fell on a viewing center with football fans watching UEFA Europa League.

He also expressed concern about people who conduct all manner of menial jobs like mechanic, food vendors, business centers under high tension power lines, adding that they had magnetic radiation that could cause cancer of the brain among other ailments.

The expert called on the government to create adequate awareness on the dangers of operating under high tension power lines.

He said that the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) had written to the Distribution Companies (DisCos) that whoever that builds a house under power line should not be given power or disconnected.

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“For those that constructed their buildings before the erection of the high tension, they should be relocated or compensated by the Federal Government.’’

According to Egede, there should be inclusion of cradle ladder on areas where 33KV power lines are running.

“The cradle ladder is like net that can be put under a power line to suspend power cut dropping on people or buildings.’’

Credit: Independent