NEMSA tasks experts on electrical safety

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of the Nigeria Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA), Engr. Peter O. Ewesor, has said buildings on right-of-way have caused electrical hazards which have led to deaths. Engr. Ewesor said this as the Guest Lecturer at the Fifth Engineer Otis O.T Anyaeji Annual Lecture organised by the Maitama […]

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of the Nigeria Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA), Engr. Peter O. Ewesor, has said buildings on right-of-way have caused electrical hazards which have led to deaths.

Engr. Ewesor said this as the Guest Lecturer at the Fifth Engineer Otis O.T Anyaeji Annual Lecture organised by the Maitama Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

Ewesor who spoke on the theme: “Electrical Safety”, said, “People go and build houses under a power line and when the line falls on the roof, people could be affected. This affected people at a viewing centre in Calabar. When the line fell on the house, the whole place was electrified and people were killed.”

He said NEMSA had given a rule that building premises under power lines or within the right-of-way should be demolished, but that NEMSA could not do it alone.

Threfore, he said, “So, all Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) should start disconnecting such houses and structures that are on the path of power lines.”

The Chairman of the Maitama Branch of NSE, Eng. Markus C. Dye, said the branch was using the occasion to create awareness on electrical safety.

The Chairman of the Otis O.T Anyaeji Annual Lecture organising committee, Engr. Itodo T. Ocheme, said the occasion was to celebrate an icon in the engineering profession, Engr. Otis O.T Anyaeji, who had contributed a lot to NSE in particular and Nigeria at large.