AEDC investigates electrocution of 2 in Minna

By Patrick Andrew Abuja

Th e Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has set up a six-man panel to investigative the circumstances that led to the electrocution of two persons while four others were said to have secured serious injuries. The electrical accident, which occurred on Saturday, July 29, 2017 in Angwan Biri, a neighbourhood of Minna, the Niger State capital, when a loose binding wire of an 11Kv line came into contact with the 415V red phase cable leading to a fatal high voltage.

A press statement issued by the AEDC’s Head, Public Relations & Media, Ahmed Shekarau, said a preliminary report on the incident showed the electrical accident was largely due to a windy condition. Inaugurating the panel yesterday in Abuja, the Director, Risk and Compliance, Engr. Collins Chabuka also used the opportunity to dismiss insinuations that 49 houses were aff ected in the incident as “false”, and cautioned the media and other members of the public against misinformation. Engr. Chabuka said the probe panel was in line with the internal AEDC Incident Reporting and Investigation Procedure Guidelines and industry best practice. “It is AEDC’s internal Health and Safety Policy requirements that all accidents are investigated b y i n d e p e n d e n t i n t e r n a l persons with extensive industry background, competence and knowledge.

“ T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e investigation is to highlight the shortcomings that may have led to the incident and also to recommend industry best practice and remedial measures to prevent a recurrence”, he said adding that the panel has the mandate to establish the root cause of the incident.

Th e Director said that the fi rm had complied with regulatory requirements by officially notifying the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA). T h e d i r e c t o r , w h i l e commiserating with the family of the deceased and other members of the Angwan Biri community, also expressed the AEDC’s sympathy with the injured, three of whom have been treated and discharged from hospital.
He assured that the AEDC is taking over treatment of the lone victim who is still receiving treatment in hospital. Th e investigative panel is being chaired by Engineer Mohammed Ainoko Sule, an experienced Nigerian Electricity Industry professional with over 26 years of experience in Distribution N e t w o r k O p e r a t i o n s , Maintenance and Protection System.

Ot h e r m e m b e r s o f t h e team are the Head of Health and Safety, Engineer Dirisu Biodun; the Regional Head, Human Resources, Malam Sani Ibrahim; the Team Lead, Legal Services, Niger Region, Barr. Aminu Ubandoma; the Regional Corporate Communications Offi cer, Adamu Mohammed and a Health and Safety Offi cer, Mr. Hisham Kamar. Th e Panel has two weeks to submit its report

Leave a Reply