- .As Indian firm runs high-tension transmission line over industrial complex
- .Over 100 Nigerian factory workers, properties in danger
- .Uses Nigerian soldiers, mobile policemen to intimidate local authorities
From Lagos, Nigeria
Months after the Dana Air Crash that brought tears to the eyes of many Nigerians seems to have been forgotten, another disaster of similar magnitude lurks in the corner.
This time, another Indian Company, Top Steel Nig. Ltd, in a seeming display of insensitivity to the environment, on the 8th of June, 2012 erected a transmission pillar and ran a high tension power transmission line directly over the roof of an industrial complex owned by Isocare West Africa Ltd., in which over 100 Nigerians work daily. Both companies are located at the Ikorodu Industrial Estate, Odogunyan, Lagos.
On the 5th of June, the counsel to Isocare West Africa had met with the General Manager of Top-Steel Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Rajendra Bharadia and explained to him about the dangerous implications of mounting a high tension wire directly over the roof of the industrial complex of Isocare West African Limited and advised him to have a rethink.
Mr. Bharadia however, rebuffed all the entreaties and resolved to go ahead with the project. Within the same period, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) based on a complaint by Isocare, and after a physical inspection of the said construction, had issued an abatement notice to Top Steel and its General Manager Mr. Rajendra Bharadia at the site of the erection of the high tension wire ordering the company to discontinue the project, this also was ignored by the Top Steel helmsman.
The Ikorodu Local Government Environmental Task Force also issued a stop work order to Top Steel Nigeria Limited which was also ignored.
Mr. Bharadia after several complaints and directives to him to stop work, in apparent defiance proceeded to bribe top officials at the Army Barrack in Ikorodu, and then recruited Nigerian soldiers and mobile Policemen who he stationed at the construction site, while he personally supervised the erection of the high tension wire over another company’s (Isocare West Africa) property.
Mr. Bharadia had also allegedly ordered mobile policemen to assault and brutalize staff of Isocare West Africa who attempted to take pictures of the erection of the high tension wire over Isocare.
Nigerian workers allegedly assaulted include one James Ajayi, a photographer; David Effiong, Niyi Adejimoh and Lekan Amos, all employees of Isocare.
Isocare West Africa Ltd was established seven years ago by a Nigerian living in the Diaspora after several entreaties by Nigerian trade delegations overseas to Nigerians to invest at home.
A beverage and plastic making factory, Isocare produces bottled water, carbonated soft drinks and juice in Tetra Pak and sports drinks like Gatorade. The company has in its employ over 100 Nigerians working day and night at the industrial complex which has equipment estimated at over $50 million all of which could face destruction at the snap of a single high tension transmission line.
The said high tension which was erected solely for the purpose of connecting Top Steel Nigeria Ltd was apparently carried out without any evaluation of the environmental impact and with very little consideration to the safety of lives and properties that already existed in the area before the erection of the transmission line.
It would be recalled that in June this year, a 33KVA transmission line that passed through the Agbakoja market, Apata in Ibadan South West Council area of Oyo State snapped and killed five traders including an expectant woman.
At the time, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria had made their position very clear. In a statement by the Principal Manager (Public Affairs) Mr. Jude Oyenuga, the PHCN made it abundantly clear that it portends grave hazards to have buildings or activities under or even within close proximity of a high tension wire.
His words: “The public should bear in mind that these electrical materials are persistently exposed to mother nature which makes them vulnerable to wear and tear. This could lead to the snapping of the line and such accident could happen without notice with dire consequences”.
Commenting also, the Ag. Director of Public Affairs of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr. Dipo Ifabiyi noted that even if the transmission line was as low as 11KVA, running same directly over an already existing property was still dangerous and contravenes standard regulations and conventions.
An activist, Mr. Chidi Emeagi, condemned the situation say, “Nigerian authorities would keep on talking and not take action until we have another mortal disaster in our hands. Only in Nigeria would a country’s security agencies be used to perpetrate acts of lawlessness and impunity. The governments of the land cannot claim ignorance of the reckless actions of the Indian firm, until they have ‘human barbecues’ of Nigerian citizens in their hands. And then, perhaps, all the relevant agencies that should have taken action would be mobilized to yet again gloss over the disaster like they did in the avoidable Dana airplane crash.”
Emeagi called on the Lagos state government and the Federal government to put their foot down and protect the lives of their nationals.
Repeated efforts to get a comment from Mr. Rajendra Bharadia of Top Steel were thwarted by the management of the company.
