•Power transformer
Not less than 112 Nigerians died from electricity-related accidents in 2024, a quarterly report released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has revealed.
The report indicated that the deaths were recorded from 228 accidents that occurred in the sector from which 108 were injured, reports Daily Trust.
A breakdown showed that 23 persons died from 55 incidents in the first quarter while 31 were injured. In the second quarter, the number of deaths increased to 34 from 63 incidents with 17 injured.
For the third quarter, the number of deaths was 29 from 56 incidents with 38 injuries while it reduced to 26 deaths from 54 incidents and 19 injuries in the fourth quarter.
The report added that 33 deaths occurred due to wire snaps while 13 were injured.
Similarly, 33 deaths and 54 injuries happened as a result of unsafe acts/conditions, while illegal/unauthorised access led to 23 deaths and six injuries.
Vandalism also caused 18 deaths and 7 injuries and falls from height led to one death and 18 injuries.
Why Nigeria witnesses electricity-related deaths
Nigeria has over the years recorded deaths from exposure to electricity and this is majorly caused by the use of substandard electricity materials, lack of adequate protective materials, vandalism and building close or under transmission lines.
But according to NERC, most electricity incidents occurred in franchise areas of electricity deaths.
Speaking with our correspondent, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Engr Aliyu Tahir, said analysis of all the incidents it has investigated so far showed that a lot of them involved personnel of electricity utility companies.
Engr Tahir noted that the causes are lack of adherence to approved procedures to safety requirements in operations of these networks and maintenance of the networks.
“We have seen from the field where personnel are working on power lines without the necessary personnel protective equipment, that is PPEs. In some places you see them, they have the PPEs with them, but they are not putting on the PPEs, just working like that. So, these are some of the negligence that we are correcting.
“We have seen maintenance works that are done harshly. This is electricity. Electricity is associated with a lot of hazards, and these hazards are really affecting the very professionals in the sector,” he stated.
He, however, said the agency is reviewing the safety code of utility companies to ensure they are in line with approved safety and health standards set by NERC.
He also urged Nigerians to patronise certified technicians while making electricity installation in their homes.
He added that, “It is to ensure that the personnel that you employ to do your electrical installations are certified personnel by NEMSA. That’s to ensure that they have competence and they have the necessary skills to be able to carry out that installation work. I have seen a situation where we employ non-certified personnel in parks, and by the time they do an installation in your house, the first thing is that you are now at risk, because you are not sure whether that job they did, they have done it in line with the regulations and standards.”
NERC settles 9 cases
While the phone number of spokesman of NERC, Dr Usman Arabi, could not be reached at the time of filing this report, the commission in the report said it oversaw the successful conclusion of nine compensation negotiations between licensees and families of victims of accidents.
It said this is to ensure transparency of the settlement process and to help the victim’s family secure fair compensation for losses suffered.
While stating that the commission has initiated investigations into all reported accidents and will enforce appropriate actions where necessary, it said it continues to closely monitor the implementation of licensees’ accident reduction strategy for the NESI.
“The commission also organises various programmes such as the Health and Safety Manager’s Meeting, aimed at improving the health and safety performance of the NESI. The biannual Health and Safety Manager’s Meetings organised by the commission with compliance and regulatory officers of licensees are aimed at discussing the reporting obligations of licensees as well as health and safety matters. During the meetings, licensees’ scorecards on compliance with health and safety standards,” it said.
CJN seeks justice for killed Nigerians
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has called on the judiciary to ensure electricity companies are held accountable for electricity related deaths recorded in the county.
Speaking during a seminar organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday in Abuja, the CJN expressed alarm on the 112 electricity-related deaths and 95 injuries recorded in 2024 alone.
She said the judiciary must take a proactive stance in enforcing safety regulations and operators who fail to comply must be held accountable.
“While victims and their families must be accorded the justice they deserve. The safety of our citizens must never be treated as incidental. It is a legal and moral imperative,” she said.
While emphasising that the judiciary is called upon to interpret legislation, oppose statutory and constitutional mandates, and ensure that justice is administered equitably, she said the role remains undiminished and serves as precedents that influence investor confidence, promote regulatory consistency, and protect consumer rights.
On his part, the Vice Chairman of NERC, Musiliu Oseni, said the power sector is critical as no nation has developed without having sufficient electricity.
He added that the seminar was organised for the regulator to interact with the judiciary in understanding the technicalities in the sector and ways laws could be implemented to drive investors’ confidence.
“Whether we like it or not, investments follow the path to recovery. If investors are not confident of the judicial interpretation of the law, or probably they are afraid of what may become of their investments, there is no way they will be willing to make investments that will be proper or enough for us to have sufficient progress that we all desire with respect to the improvement in performance of electricity in Nigeria,” he said.
Recent deaths from electrocution
Ten people were killed with properties and businesses destroyed following high-voltage power supply around Gwargwaje and Kauran Juli area of Zaria in Kaduna State in December 2022.
A statement issued by Abdulazeez Abdullahi, the spokesperson for the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, said the company was saddened by the unfortunate incident that occurred at 01:42 a.m., affecting customers at Police Barracks Distribution Transformer in Gwargwaje, Zaria.
According to the statement, the accident resulted from a “high tension line snap on to the low-tension line,” which resulted in a voltage supply outside limits.
However, Bature Aliyu, the ward head of Anguwar Malam Shu’aibu and Police Barracks Area in Gwargwaje, said the power fluctuations virtually affected all houses in the three communities.
According to the traditional ruler, the affected communities included Police Barracks, the New Layout Anguwar Major Aliyu, and the New Kauran Juli layout.
He said the electricity was restored late in the night with high voltage, which resulted in a fire outbreak that affected some business premises and destroyed the house of Zubair Abubakar.
He said many residents were hospitalised at some public and private health facilities around Zaria.
In August 2023, five persons were reportedly electrocuted while trying to mount a billboard in the Obiri-Ikwerre area of Rumuosi in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the Rivers State while four others received life-threatening burns.
According to media reports, the billboard, with a metal frame, reportedly touched a high-tension cable, thereby causing a spark.
The nine men were said to have lifted the gigantic structure when its metal component touched the cable and immediately conducted an electric current.
In the same year, 10 persons were killed and 25 shops and houses razed when early morning in Gada Biyu area of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident which occurred around 2 am in October was triggered when one of the high-tension wires snapped and fell on a transformer serving the neighbourhood.
The lightning sent a shockwave said to have spread to nearby shops and residential apartments, torching every available item within reach, especially electronic gadgets like sound systems, fridges, fans and air conditioners.
Eyewitnesses said the lightning sent some colours up the sky as goods and personal items went up in flames.
