ASSESSMENT OF LAND USE ENCROACHMENT ON SETBACK OF HIGH TENSION POWER LINES IN AGBADO, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

A major feature underlining the uncontrolled nature of development expansion in Agbado is the various kinds of development activities encroaching on the set back of the 330KVA high tension power line routed from Kanji to a step down station at Ikeja, Lagos state. This study aims at investigating the incidences of Land use’ encroachment on the setback of high tension power lines in Agbado, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, with the view to suggesting strategies for controlling development in the study area. The objectives of the study are to: identify buildings encroaching on a stipulated 50-meter setback from the high tension power lines and their uses; examine the condition of the buildings encroaching on power lines’ setback; assess the approval status of land uses encroaching on high tension power lines’ setback in the study area; determine the people’s level of awareness of the potential health consequences of living closely to high tension power lines in the study area; and investigate the proportion of people in the study area that are affected by Electro-magnetic radiation induced ailments. Remote Sensing technique was used to establish a buffer of 50-meter on both sides of the high tension power line traversing the affected area. The study employed random systematic sampling, on the basis of an interval of 4 buildings. Households were the units of data collection. Household heads in 150 buildings representing 25% of the total, and 7% of the total households in the study area were surveyed. Findings, among others, reveal that the total number of land uses identified in the study area is 602, out of which 427(71%) are residential.None of the buildings surveyed had existed for over 30 years.Also, there is no significant relationship between respondents’ educational attainment and their awareness of the negative health effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by high tension power lines. It recommends among others the need for Ogun state to take advantage of the urbanization pressure on its southern border with Lagos state in commencing investment in site and services schemes and affordable housing estates in order to prevent potential house developers from developing lands unsustainably.