The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has disclosed that Distribution Companies (DisCos) were solely responsible for all recorded safety-related casualties in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) during the first quarter of 2025.
According to NERC’s Q1 2025 report, the DisCos accounted for 100 per cent of the industry’s 26 recorded casualties during the period under review. This trend follows previous quarters, where they were responsible for 100 per cent in Q2 2024, 92.98 per cent in Q3, and 93.33 per cent in Q4 of the same year.
“No power generation company (GenCo) recorded any casualty during the quarter,” the report noted. It added that among the DisCos, only Aba Power, Kano, and Yola did not record any casualties.
The breakdown shows that Benin, Eko, and Ibadan DisCos recorded the highest number of incidents, with six, five, and five casualties respectively—representing 23.07%, 19.23%, and 19.23% of the total.
In total, 31 accidents were reported during the quarter, resulting in 12 fatalities (including employees and third parties) and 14 injuries.
The regulator attributed the causes of these incidents to wire snaps, illegal or unauthorized access, vandalism, unsafe acts and conditions, and falls from heights.
In addition to human casualties, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported eight cases of infrastructure damage due to explosions, fire outbreaks, or vandalism during the same quarter.
NERC said it has launched investigations into all reported accidents and promised that “appropriate actions will be enforced where necessary.”
The Commission also emphasized its ongoing efforts to improve safety standards across the sector. “The Commission continues to closely monitor the implementation of licensees’ accident reduction strategies for the NESI,” it stated.
It further revealed that it organizes biannual Health and Safety Manager’s Meetings with safety officers of licensees, during which licensees’ compliance scorecards are reviewed.
“The Commission also organises various programs, including the Health and Safety Manager’s Meeting, aimed at improving the health and safety performance of the NESI,” NERC stated.
“These meetings are aimed at discussing the reporting obligations of licensees as well as health and safety matters,” it added.
Highlighting areas for improvement, NERC said it remains committed to ensuring that all licensees adhere to existing performance standards within the sector.
“In addition, the Commission oversees settlement processes between licensees and families of accident victims in the NESI. This is to ensure transparency of the settlement process and to help the victim’s family secure fair compensation for losses suffered,” the report noted.
In Q1 2025, NERC said it supervised the successful conclusion of two compensation agreements between licensees and affected families.
