The Federal Government has indicted the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) in the electrocution of Miss Juliana Oluchi Anekwe, a 300-level student of the University of Lagos and a 15-year-old pupil, Afusat Musa, in a mosque on Ishaga Road, Idi-Araba in Lagos.
Chairman of the Federal Government Investigative Panel on the death of Miss Juliana Oluchi Anekwe, a 300-level student of the University of Lagos, who said this at a media conference in Lagos, added that the “two promising young girls lost their lives on account of electrocution from bad networks and unprofessional practices in the industry”.
Ewesor, who doubles as the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation and also Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), also indicted electricity distribution companies in the country for the recent alarming rate of electrical accidents and electrocutions nationwide.
“From records available, the electrocution occurred as a result of poor state of the distribution companies’ network and negligence on the part of the distribution company in charge of the areas, where the incidents occurred.
“This spate of electrical accidents and electrocutions leading to unwarranted loss of lives and property as well as down time of the supply to consumers nationwide is unacceptable, condemnable and reproachable,” Ewesor explained.
He disclosed that government would commenced effective sanctioning of distribution companies who engaged in the use of substandard electricity installation equipment within their operations.
Ewesor accused the utility companies of use of substandard materials, unprofessional practices, negligence and poor response to inherent problems in their networks.
Similarly, UNILAG management has insisted that the electricity distribution was responsible for the death.
Calling for compensation to the family deceased family, the university said while such cannot replace the lost life, it would force companies saddled with certain functions to act more responsibly.
Speaking, UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahman Bello, said “It is on record that the university in a letter dated August 26, 2015 had requested Eko Electric Distribution (EKEDP) to ensure that all overhead cables within the campus are buried in line with safety standards to secure the lives and property of the university.”
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