By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has identified electricity distribution companies (DisCos) as being solely responsible for all recorded casualties in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) during the first quarter of 2025.
According to NERC’s Q1 2025 report, DisCos accounted for 100 per cent of the 26 casualties reported during the period, maintaining a troubling trend from previous quarters—having also accounted for 100 per cent, 92.98 per cent, and 93.33 per cent of incidents in Q2, Q3, and Q4 of 2024, respectively.
While power generation companies (GenCos) recorded no casualties in the quarter, three DisCos — Aba Power, Kano, and Yola — were the only ones that did not report any safety incidents.
Benin, Eko, and Ibadan DisCos reported the highest number of casualties, with six, five, and five cases respectively. Together, these three accounted for over 61 per cent of total incidents, with Benin representing 23.07 per cent, and Eko and Ibadan each contributing 19.23 per cent.
NERC’s data showed that the total number of accidents reported in Q1 stood at 31, with 12 fatalities — including employees and third parties — and 14 injuries.
The Commission attributed the accidents to several factors including snapped wires, unauthorised access, vandalism, unsafe operational practices, and falls from heights.
In a related development, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported eight incidents involving damage to property or infrastructure caused by explosions, fire outbreaks, and acts of vandalism within the same period.
NERC confirmed that investigations into all reported incidents are underway, with enforcement actions to follow where necessary. The Commission said it is actively monitoring the implementation of safety strategies by licensees.
“The Commission also holds regular Health and Safety Manager’s Meetings with licensees to review compliance, discuss reporting obligations, and assess safety performance. These biannual sessions serve as a key forum for strengthening safety culture within the sector,” the report stated.
NERC emphasized that it remains committed to ensuring all market participants meet established safety and performance standards. It also noted its role in supervising compensation processes between licensees and victims’ families to ensure transparency and fair settlements.
“In Q1 2025, the Commission oversaw the successful conclusion of two compensation settlements involving accident victims,” the report added.
