The Member representing Nnewi North in Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Nonso Smart Okafor has sympathized with the family of the two victims that were electrocuted in Nnewichi, Nnewi.
It will be recalled that on Monday, 18th May 2020, a woman named Patience popularly called Nne Sam who sells fried Akara and yam with her granddaughter, Adaeze, was electrocuted after a low tension wire fell on their shop at the popular St. Peter Clavers Junction, in Nnewichi-Nnewi, Anambra State.
Reacting on the incident, Hon. Nonso Smart Okafor described their death as a sad one.
While expressing his deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, he noted that he is disturbed by the circumstance at which Madam Patience and her Grand-daughter, Adaeze, died.
According to him, the death of Patience and Adaeze raises concerns over the continuous overhead distribution and transmission of electricity networks across our country and state.
He described electric poles on roads and around streets, markets, residential houses, churches and other public places as death traps.
Woman and Granddaughter Electrocuted in Nnewi(Graphic Images/Video)
Reacting further he wrote, “At this stage of our development, we should start thinking of placing our power lines underground as it is done in advanced countries. While that may take a lot of time and financial resources, it is time we started a gradual implementation of this advanced method of building power lines”
“Most importantly, we need to stop the erection of structures close to electric poles. We need to stop building structures and engaging in social and economic activities under electricity lines’ Right of Way”
“The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission stipulates that for a 330KVA transmission line, a 50-metre distance split must be maintained on both sides of the lines before building structures”
“For a 132KVA transmission line, the distance is 30 metres. For the power distribution side, 33KVA and 11KVA lines must have on both sides distance of 11 metres. Unfortunately, we have continued to contravene the specified heights and laws”
“As a people, we can’t afford to continue to subject ourselves to environmental and health hazards in our quest for economic survival and comfort”
He, however, called on the public to religiously adhere to the rules, noting that Madam Patience and Adaeze are victims of a society that is not working.
