AT least 33 people lost their lives while another 33 sustained injuries in electricity-related accidents across Nigeria within three months, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The figures contained in NERC’s third-quarter (Q3) 2025 report, recorded a total of 57 power-related accidents nationwide during the period under review.
The incidents were reported across several electricity distribution zones, with Ikeja and Kano emerging as the worst affected areas, each accounting for 10 accidents.
In Ikeja, the accidents resulted in six injuries and four deaths, while Kano recorded six fatalities and four injuries.
Other distribution areas, including Abuja, Jos, Aba, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Yola, also reported notable incidents. Eko, Kaduna, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) were similarly affected, with many cases involving serious injuries, fatalities, or both.
The report identified unsafe acts and hazardous conditions as the leading causes of injuries and among the top contributors to fatalities.
Wire snaps were highlighted as particularly deadly, accounting for 10 deaths and seven injuries during the quarter.
Overall, unsafe practices or conditions were responsible for 10 fatalities and 18 injuries, reflecting lapses in safety culture, human error, and weak enforcement of operational standards by electricity licensees.
Illegal or unauthorised access to electricity installations also contributed to the casualty figures, leading to two deaths and three injuries, while vandalism resulted in two fatalities during the same period.
NERC further disclosed that the TCN recorded four cases of damage to property and infrastructure caused by explosions, fires, or vandalism.
The commission also said investigations were launched into all reported accidents and pledged to enforce appropriate regulatory actions where required.
The regulator also noted that it held periodic meetings with health and safety managers across the electricity sector to review incidents, share lessons learned, and identify areas needing urgent improvement.
During the quarter, NERC supervised the successful conclusion of two compensation negotiations between electricity companies and the families of affected victims.
Comparing the figures with the previous quarter, the report showed a slight improvement in fatalities but a rise in injuries.
In Q2 2025, 60 accidents were recorded, resulting in 38 deaths and 19 injuries. By Q3, accidents reduced to 57 and fatalities dropped to 33, while injuries increased to 33.
The report emphasised that all accidents during the quarter occurred at the distribution level, with no incidents recorded by the Transmission Company of Nigeria or generation companies.
Distribution companies (Discos) continued to account for the highest number of casualties, maintaining a trend seen in previous quarters where the distribution segment remained the major driver of safety incidents in the electricity sector.