Ogun State House of Assembly has passed a resolution, requesting an investigation into the remote and immediate causes and possible solutions to the damaged electric poles and fallen telecommunication masts that led to black-out and loss of property around Sango-Ota, Itele and environs.
The passage of the resolution followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, seconded by the Minority Leader, Adeleye Lukman and supported by other lawmakers, during a Plenary session, at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Opening debate on the motion, the sponsor, Hon. Sheriff, informed the House that on Sunday, April 21, 2024, a rainstorm wreaked havoc in Sango-Ota, Ota, Itele, and environs, resulting in the destruction of property worth millions of naira, including fallen electric poles and telecommunication masts, shattering cables and damaging vehicles.
He added that the incident had affected the economic activities of the areas, plunging about 40 communities into darkness.
“Preliminary reports have revealed that the fallen and shattered poles were part of the newly erected electric poles by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in Sango-Ota, Ota to Itele and it was discovered that the poles were substandard, tucked in shallow holes and poorly fixed, rendering them incapable of withstanding rainstorms, especially during the peak period of June-July”, he said.
Other lawmakers including, Hons. Musefiu Lamidi and Wahab Haruna, said there was need for the Assembly to ensure the immediate removal of the remaining newly erected and installed electric poles and cables in affected areas and replace them with quality and standard ones, to avert future occurrence, requesting the House to invite the management team of IBEDC, Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning, to prevent future occurrence.
Responding, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, said the incident was a result of poor construction technique of the pole which needed to be investigated, with a view to avert future occurrence, requesting that the management team of IBEDC, Commissioner for Environment, his Works and Infrastructure counterparts, as well as that of Urban and Physical Planning, including the Director, State Emergency Management Agency should appear before the House for an engagement on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
