Teryima Andrew
The minister of power, works and housing Mr. Babatude Fashola, has said that the electrocution of about 30 football fans in a commercial football viewing centre in Calabar, Cross Rivers state recently was as a result ‘carelessness’.
“The accident is regrettable and the consequences very saddening, they were clearly man-made and avoidable, and if we must learn any lessons from the accident, it is to honestly and truthfully admit that it occurred as a result of non-compliance with laws and regulations. And if there is a time to learn the lesson, there can be no more auspicious moment than now.”
Mr. Fashola made the disclosure Monday in Jos, the Plateau state capital, during a monthly meeting of the power sector meant to address power issues.
The minister however condole with the relations of those who loss their loved ones in the unfortunate incident.
“We pray for the full recovery of the survivors who suffered various forms of injuries, we pray for the peaceful repose of the souls of the departed and may I request that we all rise to observe a moment of silence in honour of our dear departed brothers and sisters.”
Mr. Fashola noted with regret that the incident was as a result of non challant attitude the owner of the football viewing centre
“Yes, I know that there are difficult challenges and people are struggling to eke out a living. But every business set up in a place of danger is a threat to life,that ultimately defeats the essence of survival.”
“We must admit as a People that the time to stop cutting corners and violating regulations has come upon us, and the time to change those non-compliant conduct is now, for our own long term benefit.”
“This is because the situation in Calabar, where a building was located under or close to an electricity line, exists in almost all cities in Nigeria and they are all accidents waiting to happen unless we prevent them.” Mr. Fashola stressed.
The monthly meeting for the power sector is meant to tackle challenges militating agasit constant electricity distribution.
It’s no longer news that most Nigerians sleep in the dark, but still pay exorbitant bills to ekectricity providers; in Jos, residents of the state capital have been protesting hike in electricity teriff.
The minster insisted that Disco distribution company providing electricity in Jos, must certified customer need.
“Disco performance under which you allege the power infrastructure you inherited is old and that some progress has been made by you
that I am the first to publicly defend your contributions to the sector, but to the extent that consumers are not yet satisfied, you must do more to improve service
Rather than complain about old infrastructure, I wish to remind you that nobody forced you to buy those assets and you knew what you were buying.”
