By SUNTV Global Channel | January 13, 2026
No fewer than 33 Nigerians lost their lives, while another 33 sustained injuries in electricity-related accidents across the country within a three-month period, according to the latest safety report released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The figures are contained in NERC’s Third Quarter (Q3) 2025 Electricity Safety Report, which revealed that a total of 57 power-related accidents were recorded nationwide during the period under review.
The report identified the Ikeja and Kano electricity distribution zones as the worst affected, with 10 incidents each. In the Ikeja zone, six people were injured and four died, while Kano recorded six fatalities and four injuries.
Other electricity distribution areas including Abuja, Jos, Aba, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Yola also recorded multiple incidents resulting in deaths and serious injuries. The Eko and Kaduna zones, as well as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), were also listed among areas affected by power-related accidents.
According to NERC, unsafe acts and hazardous conditions accounted for the highest number of injuries and were tied as a leading cause of fatalities. Wire snaps emerged as one of the deadliest hazards, responsible for 10 deaths and seven injuries within the quarter.
The report further disclosed that 10 fatalities and 18 injuries were linked to unsafe practices or conditions, highlighting concerns over poor safety culture, human error and weak enforcement of operational standards by electricity distribution companies.
Illegal or unauthorised access to electricity installations also contributed to the casualty figures, resulting in two deaths and three injuries, while vandalism accounted for two additional fatalities.
NERC noted that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) recorded four cases of damage to property and infrastructure during the quarter, caused by explosions, fire outbreaks or acts of vandalism.
The electricity regulator said it has launched investigations into all reported incidents and vowed to take appropriate regulatory actions where necessary. It also disclosed that it organised regular health and safety managers’ meetings across the sector to review accident reports, share lessons and improve safety performance.
In addition, NERC revealed that it supervised the successful conclusion of two compensation negotiations between electricity companies and families of accident victims during the quarter.
Comparing the figures with the previous quarter, the report showed a slight improvement in fatalities but a sharp rise in injuries.
“Relative to 2025/Q2, the number of accidents reduced from 60 to 57, fatalities dropped from 38 to 33, while injuries increased from 19 to 33,” the commission stated.
NERC stressed that all accidents in Q3 2025 occurred at the distribution level, noting that neither generation companies (Gencos) nor TCN recorded safety accidents during the period.
“This quarter continues the trend of the distribution segment being the biggest driver of safety accidents in the electricity sector,” the report said, adding that electricity distribution companies accounted for 100 per cent of accidents in the last three consecutive quarters.
The report has renewed concerns over safety standards in Nigeria’s power distribution network, with calls mounting for stricter enforcement, improved public awareness and stronger accountability measures.
— SUNTV Global Channel
