At least, three persons were electrocuted in Nigeria in the second quarter of 2019.
The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) revealed this in its latest quarterly report.
The agency said it was alarmed that at the rising deaths by electrocution in the country’s electricity market, adding that the health and safety practices of operators in the sector had declined.
The agency stated that operators made 87 health and safety reports respectively in both the first and second quarters of the year and that 10 out of the 87 reports were employees’ and third-party deaths by electrocution.
However, it said in the second quarter where the operators reported another 87 health and safety incidents, the number of employees’ and third-party deaths by electrocution rose to 37, showing difference of 27 from the previous casualty figures.
Besides, it said electricity-related injuries sustained in the sector rose from seven in the first quarter to 18 in the second quarter.
“The health and safety performance of the operators declined during the second quarter of 2019 as the number of deaths and injuries increased significantly from the preceding quarter.
“This implies that approximately three persons died of electrocution weekly in the second quarter of 2019,” the report stated.
On actions taken against this, NERC said: “In line with its mandate to ensure licensees’ commitment to safe energy delivery, the commission, during the same period, commenced hearings on some of the incidences involving various health and safety breaches.”
It excused its inability to initiate enforcement actions against operators who may have compromised the industry’s safety standards.
“However, due to the complexity of many of the cases, enforcement actions and appropriate penalties in each case were yet to be finalised during the quarter under review.
“On the other hand, the commission continued to work on a framework for penalties and compensations guidelines in order to stop the utilities’ discretionary payment of compensations to victims or victims’ families.
“Moreover, in line with its strategic goals 2017-2020, the commission has continued to intensify efforts in implementing various safety programmes aiming at eliminating accidents in the industry,” it added.
On the international debtors, NERC said Benin and Niger republics owed Nigeria N22.61 billion during the first six months of 2019.
On the debts owed to the sector by its international customers NERC said Société Nigérienne d’Electricité, Nigerien Electricity Society (NIGELEC) and Communauté Électrique du Bénin (Togo/Benin Bi-national Electricity Company – CEB Sakete), owed N22.61 billion for supplies to them between January and June.
The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) currently manages the long-term diplomatic power sales agreement between Nigeria and CEB Sakete and NIGELEC.
However, NERC said during the period under review, CEB Sakete owed N16.9 billion while NIGELEC owed N5.71 billion.
