Kogi Electricity Regulatory Fines DisCo N20m Over Safety Breaches, Lineman’s Death

The Kogi State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has imposed a N20 million regulatory fine on Kogi Electricity Distribution Limited (KEDL) over safety and operational breaches that led to the death of its lineman, Mr Dirisu Yusuf.

The sanction is contained in Regulatory Order No. KERC/ORDER/2026/09/05, signed by the chairman/CEO of KERC, Engr Ibrahim S. Abdwaaris, and the Commissioner for Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Prof Ibrahim Abdulkarim.

According to the Head of Public Affairs, KERC, Alhaji Ali Atabor, the sanction followed a fatal occupational accident involving Yusuf on the 33kV Feeder 2 network at Zango, Lokoja.

The commission found that KEDL deployed a reused and relocated concrete pole which had previously suffered mechanical shock during conductor vandalism and Hiab transportation. The pole was subsequently certified fit for climbing based solely on visual inspection.

KERC rejected the company’s defence, noting that micro-fractures and fatigue in concrete poles may not be visible to the naked eye. It described reliance on visual inspection for a recycled 33kV asset as a “total breakdown of technical asset-integrity procedures.”

The commission also faulted KEDL for classifying work at height on a high-voltage network as “routine”, thereby bypassing the formal Permit to Work (PTW) system, as well as for inadequate supervisory control.

The N20 million sanction was imposed on the basis of asset-integrity failure, inadequate pre-work verification and supervisory deficiencies.

KERC directed KEDL to pay the fine within 21 days or face an additional penalty of N500,000 for each day of default.

The commission further ordered the electricity distribution company to provide evidence of Group Life Assurance, Workmen’s Compensation and pension benefits paid to the family of the deceased within 30 days.

It also directed KEDL to submit an engineering audit of all reused poles within 60 days, enforce mandatory pre-climb verification logs and sanction the supervisor involved in the fatal workplace accident.

KERC warned that continued non-compliance could result in suspension of operational privileges and further sanctions under the Kogi State Electricity Law, 2024.

In a related regulatory order, KERC also sanctioned KEDL over an electrical incident that occurred on December 9, 2025, at New Market, Lokoja, in which Ms Suleiman Ramatu sustained severe injuries after an 11kV conductor snapped.

The commission found KEDL liable for five critical breaches, including failure to maintain the integrity of the affected 11kV asset, inadequate inspection and documentation, failure to effectively control a known public-safety hazard, poor management of Right-of-Way encroachment and failure to implement its safety management system at the location.

KERC said KEDL was aware that traders operated persistently under the energised 11kV line but failed to deploy adequate engineering controls to eliminate the risk.

It stressed that identifying a hazard was not sufficient to ensure public safety, adding that public sensitisation could not replace effective engineering and operational controls.

The commission said KEDL’s claim that it had engaged Town Planning authorities and that feeder protection operated after the conductor failure could only be considered as mitigation and not a defence against the breaches.

For violations of the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Electricity Supply and Installation Standards (NESIS) Regulations, KERC computed applicable penalties but conditionally waived payment in order to prioritise the welfare of the injured victim.

It, however, directed KEDL to bear all reasonable, necessary and properly documented costs of Ms Ramatu’s medical treatment, rehabilitation and related care.

The commission warned that the waiver did not amount to exoneration, stressing that failure by KEDL to comply with the directives would lead to revocation of the waiver and immediate recovery of the computed penalty.

KEDL was also directed to immediately inspect and certify the affected 11kV line and repair all identified defects.

The company is further required to conduct a comprehensive safety assessment of all 11kV lines located in markets and densely populated areas, establish location-specific public-safety hazard registers, and install interim safety controls, including safety nets and cradle guards.

The commission directed KEDL to submit a comprehensive compliance report within 30 days and quarterly reports for the following 12 months.