59 Electricity Workers Die in Nigeria Between Q4 2023 and Q1 2024
A devastating report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has revealed that at least 59 electricity workers lost their lives in the line of duty between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024. The report confirmed that 23 workers died in 55 accidents in the first quarter of 2024, with 31 others sustaining injuries.
According to the NERC, the number of deaths recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023 was 36, which is 13 more deaths compared to the 23 recorded in the first quarter of 2023. In the last quarter of 2023, 54 accidents and 30 injuries were recorded in the Nigerian electricity supply industry.
The commission stated that it has launched investigations into all the accidents and will continue to work with all sector stakeholders to improve the overall health and safety of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
The report revealed that the major causes of casualties (deaths and injuries) recorded in Q1 2024 were wire snaps, illegal/unauthorised access, acts of vandalism, unsafe acts/conditions, and falls from height. Out of the 54 casualties reported in the quarter, the licensees with the highest number of casualties were Eko Disco, Benin Disco, Jos Disco, and Aba power.
The NERC also disclosed that it has initiated investigations into all reported accidents and will enforce appropriate actions against licensees where necessary. The commission will continue to closely monitor the implementation of licensees’ accident reduction strategy for the NESI while the sector’s health and safety code is undergoing a review process.
Adetayo Adegbemle, an expert in the electricity industry and Convener of PowerUp Nigeria, expressed concerns over the loss of lives in the industry. He lamented that most of the Discos staff lack basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and called for more safety campaigns and regulatory interventions to curb the situation.
The NERC oversees settlement processes between licensees and families of accident victims in the industry to ensure transparency of the settlement process and to help the victim’s family secure fair compensation for losses suffered.
This tragic incident highlights the need for immediate action to ensure the safety of electricity workers in Nigeria. It is essential that the regulatory bodies take necessary steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
