The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says that no fewer than 192 electricity workers and third parties were killed or injured in power-related incidents across Nigeria in 2025, despite a marginal improvement in safety performance in the fourth quarter.
According to the latest industry report by the NERC, the figure comprises 149 casualties recorded between the first and third quarters and an additional 43 casualties documented in the fourth quarter, reflecting persistent safety challenges in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
The report stated that 112 Nigerians lost their lives in electricity-related incidents in 2024, slightly lower than the 115 deaths recorded in 2023, but still alarmingly high, while injuries stood at 95 for the same period, underscoring persistent hazards in the industry.
A comparative analysis of safety data from the NERC shows a worsening casualty trend in Nigeria’s power sector between 2023 and 2025, despite slight improvements in some indicators.
In 2024, a total of 207 casualties were recorded, comprising 112 fatalities and 95 injuries. This represents an increase compared to 2023, when fatalities alone stood at 115, although injury data for that year were not specified.
By 2025, total casualties stood at 192, made up of 109 fatalities and 83 injuries based on aggregated quarterly data, indicating a marginal decline compared to 2024.
A breakdown of the figures shows that fatalities dropped from 115 in 2023 to 112 in 2024, reflecting a decrease of three deaths, or about 2.6 per cent. Between 2024 and 2025, fatalities declined further from 112 to 109, a reduction of three deaths, or approximately 2.7 per cent.
However, total casualties tell a slightly different story. From 207 in 2024 to 192 in 2025, the sector recorded a drop of 15 cases, representing a 7.2 per cent decrease year-on-year, suggesting some improvement in overall safety outcomes.
Despite this, the broader trend indicates that casualty levels remain significantly high. With 192 casualties in 2025 compared to at least 115 confirmed deaths in 2023, the data suggests that while fatalities are gradually declining, the combined burden of deaths and injuries continues to pose serious safety concerns.
GIK/APA