Health Hazards: FG disables solar panel batteries in FCT school
The Federal Government (FG) has disconnected the solar panels batteries installed at Gui Junior Secondary School along Airport Road in FCT due to potential health risks.
Muhammad Abdullahi, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, issued the directive to the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) following the hazardous material emissions from some of the solar batteries.
Dr Andy Ukah, Deputy Registrar, EHCON, representing the EHCON Registrar, Mohammed Yakubu, at the inspection of the solar batteries on Monday in Abuja said the emission was capable of causing health hazards to the school and entire community.
Ukah, also the National Coordinator, National Institute of Environmental Health, described the incidence as a public health issue that deserved urgent attention.
“The Minister of Environment directed the council to investigate solar panel batteries emitting substances capable of causing health hazards to the people and Gui community.
“The incidence occurred on Thursday whereby some solar batteries in the school were emitting smoke,’’ he said.
Rahmatu Nusa, Director, Junior Secondary Schools, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), attributed the problem to swollen batteries resulted from continuous charging of the batteries without discharging energy.
According to her, the incidence occurred on Thursday after the batteries were switched off.
Dr Fatima Mohammed, Environmental Health Officer and Air Quality Monitoring Consultant, EHCON, identified potential dangers of the emission as irritation to skin, eyes, nose and the throat.
She said long term exposure could lead to diseases of the lung, confusion and brain damage.
According to her, in plants it can lead to corroding of the chlorophyll, causing stunted growth of plants among others.
Also, Kingsley Nwigwe, an engineer with W. Wireless Mechatronics identified possible cause of swollen batteries as usage of bad ones.
“The system has charged controller that regulated the charging system, in as much as the battery is used, it replaces the energy being used and can never over charged.
“However bad ones keep receiving energy they never get filled up so it gets swollen if they are over charged,’’ he said.
Nwigwe advised on routine inspection of solar batteries every three months, to avoid endangering the lives of the populace.
The principal of the school, Adamu Danlami, said while on official duty, the staff alerted him that the panel suddenly stopped working and noticed emission of smoke from the battery.
The News Agency of Nigeria observed that 48 panels were so far installed in the school.
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