By Our Correspondent
Residents of the Ikorodu High School bus stop area in Odongiyan, along Sagamu Road, Lagos State, have called for urgent government intervention over a gas station being developed beneath high-tension electricity cables, warning that its location could expose the surrounding community to serious safety risks.
The controversy has prompted intervention by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), which reportedly directed the operator to suspend work after an inspection raised questions about the facility’s regulatory compliance.
The community head, Tajudeen Ojo, said residents initially had no reason to suspect that the property was being converted into a gas station because it had previously been used for selling building materials, including cement and iron rods.
According to him, opposition to the project began after a gas tanker was brought to the location, making residents aware of the nature of the business being established.
Ojo disclosed that LASEPA officials visited the site on November 5 and instructed the operator to move the facility away from the overhead electricity lines. He added that the operator was also asked to visit the agency’s office for documentation.
However, some residents remain concerned that simply moving the structure backwards may not sufficiently address the risks associated with its proximity to the power lines.
One of the residents, Kazeem Olasupo, said the agency requested the facility’s regulatory documents during its inspection but that the operator was unable to provide them.
He also alleged that his efforts to alert a nearby school’s management about the project resulted in an altercation in which he and a community leader were assaulted.
Olasupo further claimed that individuals connected to the project had attempted to intimidate residents who opposed its location. These allegations have not been independently established.
Another resident, Bolarinwa Ojo, questioned the suggestion that relocating the facility by a short distance would resolve the community’s concerns, insisting that the relationship between the proposed site and the high-tension cables required a more comprehensive safety assessment.
He also said residents were not consulted before the arrangement between the property owner and the gas station operator was made.
The Ikorodu coordinator of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Oludare Abolurin, said the organisation was monitoring the matter because of concerns involving public safety, environmental protection and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Abolurin disclosed that the LASEPA inspection team, led by an official identified as Engineer Sawyer, visited the location on November 5, with community representatives also present.
He said the inspection raised concerns over the documents required to establish the operator’s compliance with applicable regulations.
The human rights organisation also called for disagreements surrounding the project to be handled peacefully, while urging the relevant authorities to ensure that residents were not exposed to unnecessary risks.
According to Abolurin, the woman associated with the project and her husband were invited to LASEPA’s headquarters in Alausa on November 9 for further discussions.
The reported stop work directive remained in place at the time of the latest report, although there was no confirmation that the facility had been permanently shut down or removed.
The dispute has renewed attention on the responsibility of regulatory agencies to ensure that commercial developments meet applicable safety and planning requirements, particularly where their location could affect neighbouring communities.
Residents are now looking to the relevant authorities for a comprehensive assessment and a lasting resolution that addresses their concerns.
About the Author
