At least 112 people died in electricity-related accidents across Nigeria in 2024, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The report showed 228 incidents occurred during the year, leaving 108 others injured. Many of the cases involved wire snaps, unsafe practices, vandalism, and illegal access to power lines.
Engr. Aliyu Tahir of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) blamed negligence and poor safety measures, noting that many utility workers ignored protective gear while working on live lines.
NERC said it helped secure compensation for families of some victims while investigations into reported cases are ongoing.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, urged the judiciary to hold power companies accountable for safety lapses, stressing that citizens’ lives must be protected.
Past tragedies linked to power surges and snapped lines in Kaduna, Rivers, and Plateau states claimed dozens of lives, underscoring ongoing safety concerns in the sector.
