The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has commenced an investigation into the deaths of 38 electricity workers who lost their lives while on duty between April and June 2025.
The report revealed the Commission has initiated investigations into all reported accidents and will enforce appropriate actions where necessary.
The figures contained in NERC’s Second Quarter 2025 Report, released in Abuja, show Kano is among the worst-hit states, accounting for at least 10 fatalities.
The findings showed a sharp rise in workplace accidents, injuries, and deaths across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
The Commission identified Ibadan, Kano, Benin, Eko, and Jos Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) as the worst performers, jointly responsible for 63 per cent of all deaths and injuries recorded during the quarter.
“Out of the 57 casualties reported in the quarter, the licensees with the highest number of casualties were Ibadan (11), Kano (10), Benin (5), Eko (5), and Jos (5) DisCos.
“Relative to 2025/Q1, the number of accidents increased from 31 to 60, the number of fatalities increased from 12 to 38, and the number of injuries increased from 14 to 19.
“All fatalities were recorded within the distribution segment of the industry, with no worker casualties reported by any of the generation companies (GenCos) or the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)”.
The report noted that the figure is disturbing in which DisCos have been responsible for almost all safety-related incidents over successive quarters.
NERC expressed concern over the trend, lamented that despite repeated warnings and interventions, safety conditions within distribution companies have shown little improvement.
“DisCos continue to account for the majority of the safety challenges experienced in NESI. Cumulatively, they accounted for 100 per cent of casualties recorded in 2025/Q2, having accounted for 92.98 per cent, 93.33 per cent, and 100 per cent in 2024/Q3, 2024/Q4, and 2025/Q1, respectively,” the Commission stated.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to enforcing Section 34(1)(e) of the Electricity Act 2023, which mandates it to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of power to Nigerians.
It vowed to hold operators accountable for breaches of safety standards that endanger workers and the public.
NERC said: “Licensees are required to submit monthly health and safety reports to the Commission”, adding that it received 102 out of 105 mandatory submissions during the period under review.
While the TCN reported no fatalities, it recorded 11 cases of asset damage caused by explosions, fires, and vandalism.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
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