News

Nigeria’s Electricity Sector Accidents Hits 167

Published

3 years ago

December 27, 2021

Kenny

By Udeme Akpan

ELECTRICITY accidents in Nigeria’s power sector have dropped by 27 percent to 167 incidents in the first half of 2021, (H1’21), from 228 incidents recorded in the corresponding period of 2020, according the quarterly reports of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.

The reports obtained by Vanguard, weekend, indicated that the highest incident of 86 were recorded in the second quarter of 2021, while the least of 81 were recorded in the first quarter. The sector also recorded 50 deaths during the period compared to 35 recorded in the corresponding period of 2020, indicating a decrease of 43 percent.

Specifically, the first quarter 2021 report, stated: “The Commission received 81 accident reports from the licenced operators during the first quarter of 2021. The accidents, unfortunately, resulted in 24 deaths and 13 injuries of various degrees involving both employees of the companies and third parties.

“The commission, in line with its mandate to ensure safe and reliable electricity services, has commenced enforcement on some of the incidents involving various safety breaches during the quarter. On account of its zero tolerance on safety breaches in NESI and in line with its strategic goals 2021-2023, the commission has continued to intensify its monitoring and implementation of various safety programmes aimed at reducing accidents in NESI.

“The safety programmes implemented by the commission include, but not limited to, the standardisation of system protection schemes, public enlightenment on the safe use of electricity, a review of an operational procedure for Distribution System Operators, DSO, on fault clearing and engagement of stakeholders on Right of Way, RoW, violation.”The second quarter report also, stated: “During the second quarter of 2021, the Commission received a total of 86 mandatory health and safety reports from licensees.”

However, commenting on the development, Group Managing Director, GMD Sahara Power Group, Kola Adesina, attributed it to population growth and other factors. He said: “Population is growing; consumption is growing, power assets are not growing in the same proportion. Mainly, third party illegal tampering and by pass are the major causes. Badly, we have to keep policing to detect, prevent and restore lines. We can also seek to enforce as well as invest more, especially in projects and programmes Law enforcement and investment.”

Similarly, President, Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kunle Olubiyo, who attributed some accidents to vandalism and other factors, said: “The accidents could also be attributed to the planning and construction of properties in the sector and nation. There are cases where cheap materials, including cables culminated in accidents. Illegal wiring and energy theft also lead to accidents in the sector because they over stretch available supply, leading to explosion.”

Recently, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, had disclosed that a fire outbreak caused by a vandalised pipeline along Isheri Olofin, off Igando – LASU expressway in Lagos had caused massive damage to 330kV Ikeja-West Akangba transmission line 1, leading to the collapse of five power towers.

A statement by TCN General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, explained that the inferno burnt off a large portion of the conductor. “This triggered a resistant pull on the high-tension towers along the line route causing five of them to collapse”, she added.

Mbah stated that the incident which “is estimated to have occurred at about 00.29 in the early hours of Friday, burnt a wide portion of the 330kV transmission line which wheels 145MW of bulk power to the Akangba Substation. The transmission towers affected are the two closest to the site of the incident and three across the Lagos Canal.

“As a result of the incident, there is a major reduction of bulk power wheeled to TCN’s 330/132/33kV Akangba Transmission Substation in Lagos, however, due to the fact that the substation takes supply from two different 330kV transmission lines, with the second being the redundant line, TCN will rearrange bulk electricity transmitted on that line route to the second 330kV previously carrying 59MW”.

He noted that TCN was successfully back-feeding the substations affected by the towers collapse, while the engineers were patrolling the second 330kV transmission line that tripped due to the incident, to ensure it has no fault before it is energised. “Once it is energised, supply will be restored to all the substations affected by the incident from the second 330kV transmission line, as the load carried by the burnt 330kV line will now be transferred to the second line.

“This kind of incident is a major setback to the implementation of our grid expansion and stability under our well-articulated Electricity Grid Maintenance, Expansion and Rehabilitation Programme. This is because the re-erection of five towers and restringing of the 330kV transmission line is a major project that costs a lot of money and will take a while to complete”.

TCN appealed to “Nigerians to desist from activities such as oil bunkering, and other destructive tendencies, as they all have very far-reaching negative effects on the nation at large. The issue of protecting our national assets is imperative. Protecting national assets is one that must be taken very seriously so that the stability of the nation’s network and the development of the nation is not compromised”.

News

Reps To Quiz Edun, Cardoso Over Non-compliance With Fiscal Responsibility Act

Published

9 minutes ago

June 14, 2025

Editor

The Joint House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts and Public Assets has invited the Minister of Finance, Mr Olawale Edun, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Olayemi Cardoso, to appear before it on Monday over allegations bothering on non-compliance with the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.

The duo are also expected to respond to the 2021 audit queries relating to internal control weaknesses identified by the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation (oAuGF).

In a letter jointly signed by the Chairmen of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Bamidele Salam, and the Committee on Public Assets, Rep. Ademorin Kuye, the lawmakers requested the Finance Minister and the CBN Governor to provide details on the remittance of operating surplus to the Federation Account by the apex bank in line with the provisions of relevant laws and regulations.

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission and the Auditor General for the Federation had, in reports submitted to the joint committees, accused several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including the CBN, of failing to remit or under-remitting their operating surpluses as required by extant financial laws and regulations over the last six years.

According to the Public Accounts Committee Chairman, “these violations have negatively impacted the liquidity of the federal government and constitute a hindrance to effective implementation of the budgets passed by parliament.”

The committees stated that both the Finance Ministry and the apex bank had been given ample opportunity to reconcile their accounts and present their positions in order to determine the degree of financial liabilities involved, hence the need for a final hearing to resolve the issues.

The committee is equally reviewing a report in the Auditor General for the Federation’s statutory report which suggests that a number of public assets, which had been fully paid for, have not been completed or put into use for many years.

“Some of these projects in Dutse, Abeokuta and other locations were awarded between 2011 and 2016 but yet to be completed according to audit reports.”

News

Again, NiMet Predicts Three-day Thunderstorms, Rain From Saturday

Published

14 minutes ago

June 14, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has predicted thundery and rainy weather activities from Saturday to Monday across Nigeria.

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Friday in Abuja envisaged early morning thunderstorms on Saturday over parts of Taraba, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Adamawa states in the northern region.

According to it, thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over parts of Kebbi, Taraba, Zamfara, Borno, Kaduna, Sokoto, Gombe, and Bauchi states later in the day.

“In the North-Central region, early morning thunderstorms are expected over parts of Benue, Plateau, Niger, the Federal Capital Territory, and Nasarawa States.

“Later in the day, thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Kwara, Kogi, and Plateau states.

“In the Southern region, cloudy atmosphere is expected with chances of morning rains over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa States,” it said.

NiMet predicted isolated thunderstorms with rains over parts of Imo, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Rivers State later in the day.

The agency anticipated prospects of morning thunderstorms on Sunday over parts of Kaduna, Kebbi, Adamawa, and Taraba States in the northern region.

It envisaged thunderstorms with rain over parts of Taraba, Adamawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Zamfara, Gombe, and Bauchi States later in the day.

NiMet anticipated patches of clouds with sunshine intervals with prospects of early morning thunderstorms likely to affect parts of Kogi, Kwara, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, and the Federal Capital Territory in the North-Central region.

“Later in the day, thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Nasarawa, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, and Plateau states.

“In the Southern region, morning thunderstorms are expected over parts of Delta, Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States.

“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over most parts of Imo, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Lagos, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers State,” it said.

The agency envisaged morning thunderstorms over parts of Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Adamawa, and Taraba States in the Northern region on Monday.

NiMet predicted thunderstorms with rains over parts of Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara, Gombe, Kaduna, and Bauchi States later in the day.

In the North-Central region, the agency forecast patches of clouds with sunshine intervals are expected with prospects of thunderstorms with rains over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, and Niger States.

According to NiMet, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Kwara, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Benue, and Kogi States in the afternoon or evening hours.

“In the Southern region, cloudy atmosphere is expected with chances of
morning rains over parts of Ogun, Edo, Ondo, Ogun, Delta, and Bayelsa States.

“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms with rains are anticipated over most parts of the region,” it said.

According to it, the public should take adequate precaution as strong winds may precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur.

NiMet urged the public to ensure that loose objects are fastened to avoid collision and avoid driving under heavy rain.

“Disconnect electrical appliances from electrical sockets. Stay away from tall trees to avoid impact from falling branches and broken trees.

“Airline operators are advised to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.

“Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet. Visit our website, www.nimet.gov.ng,” it said.

NAN

News

JUST IN: Lagos LG Chairman Dies After Prolonged Illness

Published

1 hour ago

June 14, 2025

Editor

The Executive Chairman of Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area, Musibau Asafa, is dead.

Asafa was said to have died during a prolonged illness.

His death, which has thrown the LCDA into mourning, was formally announced in a statement shared via Facebook on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Bodunrin Ayodele.

Ayodele, however, did not disclose when the chairman died.The Executive Chairman of Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area, Musibau Asafa, is dead.

Asafa was said to have died during a prolonged illness.

His death, which has thrown the LCDA into mourning, was formally announced in a statement shared via Facebook on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Bodunrin Ayodele.

Ayodele, however, did not disclose when the chairman died.

The statement read, “Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area is in mourning following the passing of its Executive Chairman, Prince Musibau Adekunle Asafa.

“Prince Asafa, a respected politician, leader and dedicated public servant, succumbed to a prolonged illness, leaving behind a legacy of service and commitment to the people he served.

“According to a close family member, Prince Asafa’s passing was confirmed after a long battle with illness. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, he was unable to recover and passed on, leaving his family, friends, and colleagues in shock and grief.“As news of his passing spreads, tributes and condolences are expected to pour in from well-wishers, community leaders, and government officials who had the privilege of working with him. Prince Asafa’s leadership was marked by a commitment to improving the lives of his constituents, and his contributions to the local government will be deeply missed.

“Oto-Awori LCDA has lost a dedicated servant, and his passing will be felt by many. May his legacy live on, and may his family find solace in the memories of his life and service.”

The Executive Chairman of Somolu Local Government Area, Abdul-Hamed Salawu through the Somolu LGA social media accounts on Saturday also condoled with Oto-Awori LCDA over the chairman’s demise.

The post read, “The executive chairman of Somolu Local Government, Abdul- Hammed Salawu, has sent the condolences of the Executive, Legislature, Management and the people of Somolu Local Government to the people of Oto- Awori LCDA and APC family, over the painful demise of Prince Musbau Adekunle Asafa, the executive chairman of Oto- Awori LCDA.

“May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”