PRACTITIONERS CALL FOR MORE DISCUSS AND ACTION ON ELECTRICITY SAFETY IN NIGERIA

By Gideon Tobiloba



Constant power supply is a key factor for growth in any society so also is its safety. Experts believe elecrricity kills more than many diseases in Nigeria today calling for prompt action on electricity safety. This is the focal point of this year's Engr Otis Anyaeji Annual Distinguished Lecture organized in conjunction with the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Maitama Branch, Abuja, which has as its theme “Electrical Safety: Contemporary Issues, Challenges & way Forward in the Power Industry and other Sectors”.


Speaking, at the event is the president of  Nigerian Society of Engineers Engr. Adekunle Mokuolu FNSE ably represented by a national exco in person of Engr. Akintola Akintayo FNSE enjoined engineers to introduce discourse around the delivery of electricity as part of its contribution towards assisting the Federal Government to guarantee sustainable power supply in the country.


He also recalled that in 2017, the Nigerian Infrastructure report card rated the country’s electric power infrastructure F2 (1.36), down from E3 (2.16) in 2015, since the reliability of the existing power infrastruture was in doubt.


The Managing Director/ Chief Executive of Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Engr. Peter Ewesor FNSE in his own opinion believes that poor investment by private owners of power infrastructure and inadequate liquidity in the electric ecosystem are part of the major problems militating against the growth of the power industry.


He also said that lack of compliance to rules and regulations, poor designs and inadequate specification, high incidents of electrocutions as well as falsified equipment capacities especially in transformers, switch gears and isolators are all major factors for the problems encountered in the sector.


His Royal Highness Engr. Otis Oliver Anyaeji FNSE, the most decorated engineer in Nigeria, a former National President of Nigerian Society of Engineers and the celebrant of the Annual Lecture however cautioned Nigerians and professional bodies against the use of substandard electrical materials, which he ideally believes is the major course  of frequent electrocutions.

He also added that there is need for relevant authorities to investigate incidences of electrical accidents, saying that the power sector could revamp Nigeria’s economy, with massive investment from the private sector.


Also, the chairman of NSE, Maitama branch, Engr. Marcus Dye FNSE,opined that electricity is a product of multidisciplinary engineering and sciences, describing it as an index for national and global development.

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