The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company has cautioned billboard owners and outdoor advertising agencies against encroaching on power lines right of way in order to guide against electrocution and fire disaster.
Mr John Ayodele, Chief Operating Officer of IBEDC, gave the warning in Ibadan, on Tuesday during a visit to the management of the Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency in commemoration of the 2021 World Day for Safety and Health at Work. He described indiscriminate erection of billboards and display of wares on the electricity right of way as a daunting problem.
The COO of IBEDC, who was represented on the occasion by the Head, Safety and Environment of IBEDC, Mr Abiodun Disu, said, “We are looking at partnering with OYSAA to see how we can help tackle the menace of indiscriminate erection of billboards under power lines.
“When you move around town, you will see many potential dangers. We have observed that many billboards are located around the right of way of power lines. We have discovered that too many of the billboards are potential dangers because of locations, therefore we came up with the idea of meeting the leadership of this agency.
“Although, we have not recorded any incident or happenings but we are aware that some billboards made of metal can be potential danger when they are stationed under powerlines. We have decided to be proactive by being responsible in resolving the problem and preventing possible danger.
“For us we want to ensure that safety of our consumers is not compromised in our business endeavours. We want to find a way of partnering with you on how to ensure that billboards are not installed under powerlines to prevent possible danger.”
The Director-General of OYSAA, Mr Temilola Adibi, said, “We are aware of some anomalies in the pattern of operation of practitioners. This is hinged on the way the job was done in time past. We have laid down some procedures which are not being followed to the letter.
“We have practitioners who erect billboards indiscriminately. We are ready to synergize to correct many anomalies. In this synergy, we expect IBEDC to notify OYSAA in areas of infractions on power lines so that we can take it up from there.
“We have to partner because it’s not what either IBEDC or OYSAA can do alone. The government has made up its mind to clamp down on defaulters. The billboards we have outside, about 60 per cent are illegally owned and we are ready to clamp down on them.”
