By ABAH ADAH, Abuja
Managing director/chief executive officer of the Nigerian Electricity Management Safety Agency (NEMSA), Engr Peter Ewesor has disclosed that the agency has concluded plans to set up a task force with the mandate of overseeing electrical networks and installations around the country to detect unsafe ones and act as appropriate.
Engr Ewesor, who disclosed this in exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP in his office in Abuja noted with regret the prevalent cases of electrical accidents and electrocutions witnessed around the country in recent times.
Attributing the accidents to aging networks, substandard materials installations among others, Ewesor said, “One of the first things we have done is to strengthen this certification or licensing scheme because it is one of the instruments with which we are to ensure that no person irrespective of whom he is will be allowed to handle electrical installation works in Nigeria without having that certificate.
“In carrying out any installation, you must put your certificate number, your telephone number, state your category among others.
“And going forward, we are going to set up some taskforces to look at some system we feel are not safe, and ensure that such networks do not get power supply until fixed.
He also said from 2016 to date, 366 deaths of largely members of the public and some electricity workers have been recorded in 321 electrical accidents, with 86.8% of the fatalities occurring among members of the public and 13.2% happening to electricity workers.
Ewesor noted that agency will not relent in its effort to have electricity networks in the country sanitised for maximum safety of electricity consumers, adding he will defy all distractions to ensure that erring operators are sanctioned appropriately.
“The electrocutions took place across states: towns and villages. Injuries are even on the higher side but we count those ones as survivors who can be compensated. But like I use to say no amount of compensation can be worth one life lost and you cannot bring it back.