Between January and September 2024, Nigeria experienced 174 electricity-related accidents, a 38% increase from the 126 incidents reported in the same period in 2023, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
This surge has raised concerns about safety standards in the country’s power sector.
The NERC’s quarterly reports showed an upward trend in accidents last year, peaking in the second quarter. The first quarter saw 55 accidents, rising to 63 in the second quarter, and slightly dropping to 56 in the third quarter.
Despite this slight improvement, the overall increase underscores the need for stricter safety measures and regulatory compliance.
The rise in accidents has led to more injuries and fatalities. In the first three quarters of 2024, 76 individuals were injured, up from 72 in 2023. Fatalities increased by 8.9%, from 79 in 2023 to 86 in 2024, with the highest number of deaths recorded in the second quarter.
NERC attributed the incidents to factors such as illegal connections, wire snaps, vandalism, explosions, and electrocutions. The commission stressed the importance of public awareness campaigns to educate Nigerians on the dangers of unauthorized electrical connections and unsafe practices. It also called for urgent steps by electricity Distribution Companies to improve compliance and reduce accidents caused by equipment failure and wire snaps.
The regulatory body remains committed to enforcing stricter safety standards and overseeing settlement processes between licensees and families of accident victims to ensure fair compensation.
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