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Comrade Victor Ojei, aka Wong Box.

His Excellency,
The Executive Governor of Delta State,
Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.

Sir,
Petition: WHO IS TO BLAME?
DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT OR BEDC FOR FAILURE TO PROTECT/ENFORCE RIGHT OF WAY IN DELTA STATE
On the 3rd of July 2020, Mr. Ugochukwu Abili, a resident of Asaba, Delta State was electrocuted at Midwifery Junction along Okpanam road by the snapping of the electrical network of BEDC Electricity Plc, keep in mind that the Governor of Delta State, Governor Ifeanyi A. Okowa on 31st of January, 2020, Commissioned 104 Food/Fruit shops (“SMART DELTA FOOD/FRUIT ARENA”) built by Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency and public/private partnership.

The shops are located at Summit Junction where 32 shops were built. Others are at FMC Junction with 23 shops; NTA Junction where 31 shops were built and Akpụ Junction with 18 shops. under 33 Kva high tension cables in Delta State prior to the unfortunate incident which has made his wife a widow left with 3 sons to cater for.
Keep in mind that BEDC did not go for his burial nor sponsored his hospital bills or pay a condolence visit to the wife of the deceased. Delta State Government on their own failed in their constitutional duty they owe the people. The primary aim of every government is the welfare and security of its people.
On the 3rd of November 2017, the Honourable Minister of Power Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN communicated and drew the attention of his Excellency the Governor of Delta State on the Right of Way violations on 11 kva and 33 kva lines, he made it very clear that he has information that people are still constructing under the above mentioned cables and the serious risk it poses to the public which also prevent electricity distribution companies from carrying out their maintenance duty effectively on its network. He also noted that the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission has publish “Right of Way” regulations for safe separation of structures from transmission and distribution lines.

For 330 kva lines the distance should be 25m away from the closest structure ( We have a primary school built under these cable at Achala Ibusa Road, Asaba as we speak, and the Government are fully aware but chose to look at the other side).
For 132 kva lines the building should be at least 15m away from the closest conductor.
For 11 kva lines the buildings should be at least 3m away from the closest conductor
For 0.415 kva lines the buildings should be at least 3m away from the closest conductor.
Underground cable should be 3m below the ground level or surfaces.

Delta State Government and Governor was urged to kindly direct all appropriate ministries and departments to enforce these regulations for public interest and safety, but till date none of them nor BEDC Protection team confronted Delta State Government agencies who violated Right of Way nor did they enforce the above regulations.

At Anwai road you will see that some structures were built on the right of way of BEDC network which made them to divert installations to the other side of the road. Delta Capital Territory Development Agency even built a borehole beside a 33 kva transmission cable at summit junction, Asaba. Till date the ministries of energy, Lands and Survey, urban planning, Environment or BEDC did not challenge all these violations that were outlined by the then Hon. Minister of Power.
Questions to ask ourselves are:
i) What is the Ministry of Environment , Ministry of Lands and Survey, BEDC enforcement Team doing to this effect?
ii) Enviromental Impact Accessment of the above fruit shops built by by Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, who gave them approval to use the environment?

iii) Who approved the plans of the “SMART DELTA FOOD/FRUIT ARENA”?
You can see that illegal structures were now made legal by the commissioning of structures built under high tension electricity transmission/distribution cables/network by the Governor of Delta State, this bad move made citizens and residents of Delta State believe that it is right to build under the above mentioned. Nobody challenged anyone because the Governor approved of it via commissioning structures under high tension on the 31st of January 2020 which also jeopardize the health status of those who trade under electricity network due to radiation or emission from these cable during transmission.

Who also gave approval for the GENCOS ( Build Operate and Transfer) or (Build Operate and Own) at NTA junction opposite MAC DONS along Okpanam road? DO not be deceived sir, the Federal ministry of Environment is the only federal government body or parastatal that can give license or approval, did they give it to Delta State Government? Delta State Ministry of Environment have no such power to engage in such grade of approval. Do you know the danger it poses to those who live in that residential area? We inspected the installation during the lockdown of covid-19 we noticed that they did not also bury the cables 3m below the ground as prescribed by NERC, they were supposed to use copper cables only due to durability but they used mixture of aluminium and copper, why oh why? Keep in mind that Okpanam road is prone to water logging, the installed cables have circuit breakers which is very dangerous cause the prescribed depth of 3m for laying it was not adhered to, people will die overtime if that GENCOS that is meant to serve Delta State Government Ministries alone as soon as it is operational. You can recall how gas pipeline exploded at lagos March 15, 2020, at 12:05 p.m. – An explosion at a gas processing plant on that fateful Sunday killed at least 15 people and destroyed about 50 buildings after a fire broke out in a suburb of Lagos, commercial capital, thanks to poor government regulations in that region of lagos state.

BEDC be willing to loose these Government facilities who have been their consumers since inception of BEDC? What about the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), is it still valid? We see no visibility of the GENCOS going operational anytime soon because it is very obvious that whoever advised Delta State Government misled them about this GENCOS project. It is very clear that all involved from Delta State Government side in this BOT or BOO GENCOS, did not or do not have the required/expected experience to undertake a project of this magnitude. They all do not have power generation experience either by years of experience or special training for the purpose of the project.
BEDC and all the Delta State Government agencies is now expected to act RIGHT despite they have initially refused to act by way of silent and neglect to all the campaigns via our social media handle @wong box.
Delta State Government lately, now segregate myself Comrade Victor Ojei a.k.a WONG BOX from all their activities and programs that they ought to ensure that I am inclusive due to the fact that we always speak the truth to power. Just today, the 8th of December 2020, Barrister Fred Latimore, ensured that I did not gain access to the Delta State Government sponsored workshop his office organized at Orchid Hotel Asaba, I had to leave when all the media personalities, Delta State Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Information arrived and all gained access to the venue of the program hall, keep in mind that I participated in the first edition held in 2019. If we continue like this how will our Governor Senator Dr. Ifeanyi A. Okowa achieve a stronger Delta State by exclusion of the genuine stakeholders of media or civil societies as against Delta State Government pets or stomach infrastructure youths or haleluyah boys and girls? Can he take away all our efforts in the past and present as watch dogs of Delta State Government?
We will not give up or give in, we will always play our part, Delta State Government should better wake up and do their part, Delta State Government should advise their political appointees to rise above such displays of politicizing programs that should involve active civil societies/media personnel all because they perceive you as danger. I am the P.R.O of Delta State Coalition of Civil Societies, N.G.O’s and media on Covid-19 Taskforce, so what excuse does Barrister Fred Latimore have to systematically ensure I was not part of the workshop?

We hereby demand that all structures existing under high tension in Delta State built by Delta State Government or individuals should be demolished for public interest. We hope to hear from you shortly on the way forward to achieve a “Stronger Delta State”.

We hope this helps.

Yours Faithfully,

~ Wong Box a.k.a Comrade Victor Ojei

CC:

The Commissioner,
_Ministry of Energy,
Asaba, Delta State._

The Commissioner,
Ministry of Environment,
Asaba, Delta State.

The Commissioner ,
Ministry of Lands and Survey, Asaba, Delta State.

Director General ,
Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, Asaba, Delta State.