.To partner with NGOs on youth empowerment
By Oye Chukwujekwu,
Asaba
The Delta State Ministry of Environment has condemned the erection of permanent structures and shanties under high and low tension cables by some individuals in the state.
The ministry pointed out that the act amounted to defacing the environment and endangering their lives and other occupants of the structures.
The Commissioner for Environment, John Nani, stated that electricity produces extremely high frequency electromagnetic field which comes under non-ionizing radiations which could cause health effects.
He said that apart from human effect, the electrostatic coupling and electromagnetic interference of high voltage transmission lines have impact on plants and telecommunication equipment mainly operating in frequency range below UHF.
He also warned that the voltage level of high power transmission lines are 400KV, 230KV, 110KV, 66KV, saying that the electromagnetic field from high power transmission lines posed serious threat to human health as the effect of electrostatic field could cause damage of DNA, risk of cancer, miscarriage for pregnant women, leukemia and in most cases death.
He advised all owners of such structures built under high and low tension cables to dismantle and remove the resultant materials on or before May 20, 2017.
He added that the ministry would embark on a crucial demolition exercise to remove all illegal structures built under high and low tension cables in the state, while urging the people of the state not to build beyond the strips of land provided as right of way for high tension installations in the state, saying, the “Right of Way serves as buffer to decrease the effects of the energized line including magnetic and electric field effects.”
Meanwhile, Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has stated his administration’s commitment to partner with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) on youths’ empowerment and skill acquisition.
At the 10th graduation ceremony and Commissioning of the Permanent Complex Phase 1 of Oasis of Hope Initiative in Ute-Okpu, lka North East Local Government Area, Okowa noted that government would continuously support youth empowerment and job creation initiatives in the state in line with his administration’s SMART agenda.
According to him, “government will encourage partnership with Non-governmental organizations in skill acquisition. l will ask my Chief Job Creation Officer to liaise with this centre and send some of its trainees here. It will help grow this centre and increase the number of the students here.”
He urged wealthy Nigerians to help bridge the gap between the rich and the poor by positively impacting on the lives of the youths and reduce crime in the society. “There is a wide gap between the rich and the poor in this country. We should learn to impact on the lives of others,” he said.
While commending the centre, Okowa asserted: “There cannot be any better sacrifice for God than raising evangelist for God, you are not only empowering youths but also teaching them the ways of God to make them better citizens for the society.
“You the graduates should know that you are now ambassadors of the state, you must live your lives to succeed and also give hope to others.”
