Politically speaking, it is unsafe and unhealthy to see people encroach on the right of way of electrical installations all over the country because it is dangerous and highly hazardous. Right Of Way (ROW) refers to a strip of land where transmission line is constructed, erected, operated and maintained. The recommended safe distances to be maintained from electrical installations are 5.5, 15 and 25 meters on both sides for 11/33kV, 132kV and 330kV lines respectively.

The rate of encroachment into such right of way is alarming as there are copious business and economic activities going on at these locations across the length and breadth of Nigeria. One finds mechanics, food vendors, building block makers, religious worship centers and other artisans doing their businesses under distribution and transmission lines and in extreme cases, people erect permanent structures like residential buildings in such locations.

Apart from the physical danger posed by these high tension (HT) electrical installations, there are electromagnetic radiation that are not visible to the naked eye but exist and could be hazardous to humans. When we stay too close to high tension electrical installations, it increases our exposure to such radiations that have harmful effects on our health. If these lines snap and fall, they can cause destruction of property and loss of lives.

Also, the issue of right of way is slowing down the execution of many power sector projects in many parts of Nigeria. Contractors have been physically attacked, denied access to work site or frustrated to the point of abandoning ongoing projects.
 
Transmission lines are supposed to be kept free from every encumbrance by clearing all trees, structure and construction which interfere the power lines. Additionally, the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has directed that customers that violate the right of way of power lines can be disconnected while DISCOs should not extend electrical supply to prospective customers whose buildings/structures/businesses violate the right of way of power lines.

There is no gain-saying the fact that although, the issue of land is a sensitive one in Nigeria as there are traditional and cultural attachments to ancestral lands, it must be stressed that public good supersedes private interest, especially after the payment of compensation in some instances to those affected.

With this in mind, the enforcement agencies have the duty to sanitize our right of way by relocating trespassers and discouraging fresh activities on them. This could be achieved by erecting barricades around such project sites and creating partnership and collaboration with affected communities so that they are carried along and made to benefit from such projects both during the construction stage and when they are completed.