According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, a minimum of 59 electricity workers lost their lives while on duty between the last quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024.
The commission’s report verified that 23 of these workers died in 55 accidents during the first quarter of 2024.
The NERC also revealed that 31 additional workers were injured in these 55 accidents.
“The total number of accidents in 2024/Q1 was 55 which resulted in 31 injuries and 23 fatalities,” the report revealed.
It reported that 36 deaths occurred in the fourth quarter of 2023, which is an increase of 13 deaths compared to the 23 reported in the first quarter of 2023.
During the final quarter of 2023, the Nigerian electricity supply industry experienced 54 accidents and 30 injuries.
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The commission announced that it had initiated investigations into all the incidents and would maintain collaboration with all industry stakeholders to enhance the overall health and safety of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
As per NERC, the primary reasons for casualties (both fatalities and injuries) in Q1 2024 include: wire snaps resulting in six deaths and six injuries; unauthorized access causing five deaths and two injuries; vandalism leading to two deaths and five injuries; unsafe acts or conditions resulting in 10 deaths and 12 injuries; and falls from height causing two injuries.
Of the 54 casualties reported in the quarter, the licensees with the most casualties were Eko Disco with 13, Benin Disco with eight, Jos Disco with six, and Aba Power with six.
Cumulatively, Discos accounted for 96.30 per cent of casualties recorded in 2024/Q1 continuing a trend observed in previous quarters (98.48 per cent in 2023/Q4) that the distribution segment is the biggest contributor to safety issues experienced in the NESI (Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry,” the report partly read.
The commission revealed that it had started looking into all reported accidents and would take suitable measures against licensees if needed.
“Furthermore, the commission continues 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. The commission also implements various programmes aimed at improving the health and safety performance of the NESI.
“In March 2024, a quarterly peer review meeting was held with the compliance and regulatory officers of licensees to discuss the reporting obligations of licensees as well as health and safety matters,” NERC said.
The commission said it 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.
Source: The PUNCH
