Lagos govt raises alarm over 20 defective PHCN poles

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo
LAGOS — Lagos State Government has said residents of the state were at the risk of being electrocuted, as it had uncovered 20 distressed electric poles belonging to Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, which were on the verge of collapsing in different parts of the state.
It would be recalled that few days ago, a high tension pole fell on the Third Mainland Bridge, injuring many residents.
Meanwhile, the state government had concluded arrangements to begin school safety management system to prevent dangers that could befall pupils and ensure proper school safety in general.
Director General of Lagos State Safety Commission, LSC, Mrs. Dominga Odebunmi, made the remarks at a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, with the theme “Safety Approach to Looming Dangers in our Community.”
Odebunmi said  the distressed poles were discovered during a monitoring exercise of the commission.
“We discovered that at least in each of the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development area, LCDA, hundreds of electricity poles belonging to PHCN are about to fall on residents of the state.
“The poles are weak and need urgent repair. There are so many poles that are outdated and still hanging on the streets of Lagos, these poles are just metres above mini-buses, which may fall on residents any moment from now,” she added.
According to her, “In Ikeja alone, we discovered at least 20 poles with naked cables that could fall down anytime on residents of Lagos. The situation is minimal because it is closer to the seat of power. But there are thousands other falling poles that constitute dangers to the residents of the state.”