By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has reported that 33 people died and another 33 were injured in power-related accidents across the country during the third quarter of 2025.
According to the regulator’s Q3 2025 report, a total of 57 electricity-related accidents were recorded nationwide, with Ikeja and Kano electricity distribution zones reporting the highest incidents, each recording 10 accidents. Ikeja recorded six injuries and four deaths, while Kano reported six deaths and four injuries.
Other distribution areas, including Abuja, Jos, Aba, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Yola, also recorded accidents, while Eko, Kaduna, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) featured prominently. Many of these incidents resulted in severe injuries, fatalities, or both.
The report highlighted that unsafe acts and hazardous conditions were responsible for the highest number of injuries and tied for the most fatalities. Wire snaps were identified as one of the deadliest hazards, causing 10 deaths and seven injuries in the quarter. Unsafe practices accounted for 10 deaths and 18 injuries, reflecting human error, poor safety culture, and inadequate enforcement of operational standards.
Illegal or unauthorised access to electricity installations contributed to two deaths and three injuries, while acts of vandalism caused two fatalities. The TCN reported four cases of property and infrastructure damage resulting from explosions, fires, or vandalism.
NERC said it had initiated investigations into all reported accidents and would enforce corrective actions where necessary. The regulator also conducts periodic health and safety meetings for electricity companies to review incidents, share lessons, and improve safety performance.
During Q3, NERC supervised the conclusion of two compensation negotiations between electricity companies and families of victims. Compared to Q2 2025, when 38 deaths, 19 injuries, and 60 accidents were reported, the quarter recorded a slight decrease in accidents and fatalities but a rise in injuries.
“All accidents occurred at the distribution level; neither TCN nor any generation companies (Gencos) recorded safety incidents,” NERC noted. The report added that distribution companies (Discos) continue to drive most safety accidents in the sector, accounting for 93–100% of incidents in recent quarters, with Ikeja and Kano alone accounting for over 27% of casualties in Q3 2025.
