By Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) has warned members of the general public against putting up structures under high tension cable lines and electricity right of way (ROW) within the four states of its coverage.
The Disco in a statement issued by its Head of Corporate Communications, Olubukola Ilevbare, said that members of the public are meant to give a distance of between 5 to 50 meters from electricity structures, as is in line with the electricity right of way code.
Ilevbare sympathized with the families of the five men who were recently electrocuted while putting up a church banner on a metal billboard frame under a high tension cable in Obiri Ikwerre axis of the East West Road.
In his own words, “it is alarming that despite numerous public campaigns against these harmful activities, which contravene the right of way code on power lines in Nigeria and negates safety standards, some members of the public have thrown away the dangers associated with power lines and continued to ignore all warnings.
“For the purpose of reinforcement, the Company has constantly enlightened members of the public on the safety standards for building, erecting or trading close to the power lines in Nigeria.”