National Telescope national telescope newspaper
At least 59 electricity workers lost their lives on the job between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The commission’s report confirmed that 23 workers died in 55 accidents during the first quarter of 2024, with 31 others injured.
“The total number of accidents in 2024/Q1 was 55, resulting in 31 injuries and 23 fatalities,” the report stated.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, there were 36 deaths recorded, 13 more than in the first quarter of 2023, with 54 accidents and 30 injuries noted in the Nigerian electricity supply industry.
NERC has initiated investigations into all these incidents and is working with industry stakeholders to enhance safety in the sector.
The report detailed the causes of casualties in Q1 2024, attributing six deaths and six injuries to wire snaps, five deaths and two injuries to unauthorised access, two deaths and five injuries to vandalism, 10 deaths and 12 injuries to unsafe acts or conditions, and two injuries from falls.
Of the 54 casualties reported, Eko Disco had the highest number with 13, followed by Benin Disco with eight, Jos Disco with six, and Aba Power with six.
The distribution segment accounted for 96.30% of casualties in Q1 2024, continuing a trend from previous quarters. NERC is closely monitoring licensees’ accident reduction strategies and reviewing the sector’s health and safety code.
In March 2024, a quarterly peer review meeting addressed licensees’ reporting obligations and safety issues.
The commission is also involved in settlement processes between licensees and victims’ families to ensure fair compensation.
The Executive Director of PowerUp Nigeria, Adetayo Adegbemle, expressed concern over the fatalities and criticised the lack of basic personal protective equipment (PPE) among Discos staff.
“This is a serious issue. Many Discos’ staff lack basic PPE. I have raised this with many Discos. Regulators need to intervene,”
Adegbemle said, advocating for more safety campaigns and regulatory action.
He suggested that sanctions against Discos could lead to improvements, emphasising the need for enforcement if staff are found without PPE.
Previous incidents include an Ikeja Electric worker who fell from a pole in September 2021 and two Benin Electricity Distribution Company employees who were electrocuted in December 2020.
NERC’s ongoing efforts to investigate these incidents and collaborate with industry stakeholders are crucial to improving safety standards.
