NERC issues warning to Nigerians as report shows 112 deaths from illegal connections, others

• The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has released a summary study of electricity-related deaths that occurred successful 2024
• The study points retired the 2 highest starring causes of electricity-related accidents starring to deaths and injuries
• One of the starring causes identified is nationalist vandalism of energy installations and infrastructure

Legit.ng journalist Ruth Okwumbu-Imafidon has implicit a decennary of acquisition successful concern reporting crossed integer and mainstream media.

The caller quarterly study from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) identifies vandalism and ligament snaps arsenic a large origin of electricity-related accidents and deaths successful Nigeria.

The study showed that the fig of electricity-related deaths successful Nigeria declined somewhat from 115 successful 2023 to 112 successful 2024.

Other fatalities from these accidents besides amounted to 95 successful 2024, a flimsy driblet from the 102 reported successful 2023.

The contented of unauthorised energy connections has been recurring, particularly arsenic DisCos bash not get capable revenues to warrant energy given. Photo credit: Robert Brook/Nurphoto
Source: Getty Images

The bulk of this fig is, however, attributed to vandalism and ligament snaps, affecting members of the nationalist and workers with the energy procreation and organisation companies.

Wire snaps were identified to beryllium liable for six deaths and six injured casualties, portion 2 deaths and 5 injuries were traced to acts of vandalism.

Other identified causes are amerciable and unauthorized entree to electrical installations, which was liable for 5 deaths and 2 injuries, portion falls from heights resulted successful 2 injuries.

EKEDC leads with highest casualties

In Q1 2024, DisCos accounted for 96.3% of each casualties, and Eko Electricity Distribution Company led with 13 casualties retired of the full of 54 casualties recorded.

Benin DisCo had 8 casualties, Jos and Aba Discos had 6 each, portion NESCO and Yola DisCos had zero casualties, the PUNCH reports.

In Q2 2024, Ibadan DisCo was the highest with 13 retired of 51 casualties recorded. Eko DisCo had 8 casualties, Jos had 7, Enugu had 6, portion NESCO and Yola again recorded zero casualties.

Deaths accrued successful this 4th to 34, portion the fig of injuries dropped to 17.

In Q3, DisCos accounted for 92.98% of full casualties, and Ibadan DisCo led again with 11 retired of 57 casualties. Kaduna Disco has 10, Abuja DisCo has 7, and this clip around, the Egbin Power Plant had 1 casualty.

Again, NESCO kept a cleanable expanse with zero casualties.

In Q4, 2024, each DisCos but Benin and Kaduna DisCos recorded casualties, and the full deaths were 26, portion the injured were 19.

NERC identifies causes of electricity-related accidents

1. Some casualties were traced to explosions, acts of vandalism, and fire outbreaks, causing harm to spot and infrastructure.
2. Illegal and unauthorised energy connections were liable for 11 deaths successful Q2, and successful different quarters. Other fatalities inactive resulted from this cause.
3. Wire snaps were the astir prevalent origin crossed aggregate quarters, resulting successful respective deaths and injuries.
4. Unsafe acts oregon conditions accounted for astatine slightest 6 deaths and 18 injuries.
5. Falls from tallness resulted successful respective fatalities and injuries, but nary deaths resulted.
6. Operational lapses, mediocre information practices, and different acts of vandalism.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria reported astir 23 cases of accidents resulting from vandalisation of its installations. Photo credit: TCN
Source: Twitter

This inclination shows that energy organisation inactive has a batch of information issues that request to beryllium addressed for the information of Nigerians.

The Commission stated successful its study that it is inactive investigating each the accidents and volition enforce sanctions if the findings telephone for them. NERC has besides organized grooming programmes similar the Health and Safety Manager’s Meeting to amended equip inferior workers.

Compensation negotiations are besides ongoing with the families of the victims recorded successful Q4, 2024 and NERC has promised that the families would beryllium reasonably compensated.

NERC orders DisCos to beryllium transparent with metre refunds

In related news, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has directed DisCos to beryllium transparent astir the refunds they person fixed to consumers who bought meters done the Meter Asset Providers program.

Consumer advocacy organizations had earlier expressed their displeasure with the discos' uneven refunding of those who bargain meters via the MAP program.

According to the MAP framework, third-party investors can supply and support end-use meters arsenic a service, and customers who usage these meters wage metering work fees.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck retired quality that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” artifact connected the location leafage and enjoy!

Source: Legit.ng