If the power line is destroyed, residents in five southern states, including Lagos, could be thrown into darkness.

“If anything happens and the tower caves in, the consequences will be disastrous,” said Olaitan Olubiyi from the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which has a large community of its members living nearby.

Over the last four years the sand miners have excavated an area which is now the size of two football pitches.Mr Olubiyi told BBC Yoruba the digging was also threatening a road the church had built connecting its community to the main Shimawa Road.

He said the church had written to local authorities about their concerns.

The police occasionally sent officers to curb the miners’ activities, but excavations would restart after they left, he said.A chairman for the local government area, Rafiu Oladele, told BBC Yoruba: “We are not aware of the activities of the miners but we will look into the matter as soon as possible.”

Sand is in demand as it used by the construction industry to make cement.