NERC: 126 Nigerians Killed, 68 Injured in Electricity-related Accidents in 18 Months

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
At least 126 Nigerians were electrocuted, while 68 sustained serious injuries in the 18 months spanning the first quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2021, a THISDAY analysis of recent reports by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has shown.

The federal government taking cognisance of the incessant deaths and injuries in the electricity industry had in 2015, established the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) empowered to carry out the functions of enforcement of technical standards and regulations in the industry.

In addition, the organisation is statutorily empowered to carry out technical inspection, testing and certification of all categories of electrical installations to ensure the delivery of safe and reliable power supply and guarantee the safety of lives and property in the industry.

Stakeholders in the entire value chain, including NERC, the electricity Distribution Companies (Discos), the Generation Companies (Gencos) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) are also in the respective laws setting them up, expected to ensure best practices in the sector.

However, many Nigerians have either died or are maimed for life due to faulty electricity installations, incessant power surges which result in fire outbreaks, old and unmaintained power transportation network, among others.
The latest NERC data showed that in Q1 of 2020, the commission received a total of 114 health and safety reports from licensees, with nine deaths during the period and four injuries recorded.

The statistics also showed that an average of three persons died from electrocution per month during the first quarter of 2020, as compared to the monthly average of at least four incidents recorded in the fourth quarter of 2019.
In the second quarter of 2020, NERC stated that the number of deaths increased to 26 while total injuries were 12 compared to the preceding quarter.

“The statistics showed that an average of nine persons died of electrocution per month during the second quarter of 2020 as compared to the monthly average of three deaths from electrocution recorded in the first quarter of 2020.

“The commission, in line with its mandate to ensure licensees’ commitment to safe energy delivery, has commenced the review of the accident investigation reports on various health and safety incidents recorded during the quarter for proper regulatory interventions,” it assured.

It noted that it was continuing to intensify efforts at implementing various safety programmes aimed at eliminating accidents in the industry.

According to NERC, among the safety programmes being implemented by the commission include, but not limited to the standardisation of protective schemes, public enlightenment on safety, engagement of government agencies on right of way violation and a review of an operational procedure for distribution system operators.

However, Nigerians, comprising employees of the operators in the value chain and customers, continued to die from electrocution during the third quarter of 2020, with the number of injuries and deaths being 11 and 19 respectively.
Again, the NERC data revealed that approximately six persons died from electrocution every month during the third quarter of 2020 compared to the monthly average of nine in the second quarter of the same year.

NERC stated that it had commenced the review of the accident investigation reports on various health and safety incidents recorded during the quarter for proper regulatory interventions.

Furthermore, in the fourth quarter of 2020, 114 accidents were reported by the operators, out of which 22 persons died while 13 persons were seriously injured. The figure was three higher in terms of deaths and an increase of two for the injured.

A summary of statistics of the accidents experienced in the industry during the first quarter of 2021 juxtaposed with that of the preceding quarter, put the number of deaths 24 and the number of injuries at 13.
This was a decline in the health and safety performance of the operators during the first quarter of 2021 as the number of deaths increased by two from the preceding quarter.

In addition, the data showed that eight persons died from electrocution every month during the first quarter of 2021 compared to the monthly average of seven deaths from electrocution in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The commission said in line with its mission on safe delivery of electricity to consumers, it had commenced investigation to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the accidents for necessary regulatory actions.
Also, during the second quarter of 2021, the latest in the series of data released by the commission, it noted that a total of 86 mandatory health and safety reports were received from licensees.

After the analysis of the health and safety performance of licensees, NERC disclosed that 26 deaths were recorded while 15 injuries of various degrees involving both employees of the companies and the third parties were posted.
However , it noted that the health and safety performance showed a decline over the first quarter of 2021 when deaths were 24, compared with the third quarter of 2020 when there were 19 deaths and 11 injuries were recorded and fourth quarter when there were 22 deaths.

Despite the scores of death, the commission stated that it has zero tolerance for safety breaches in the power supply industry, stressing that in line with its strategic goals, it will continue to intensify its monitoring and implementation of various safety programmes aimed at reducing accidents in the industry.