The minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has vowed to ensure that the electricity surge that left some people severely wounded does not reoccur.
Adelabu who received the report of the incident from the chief electrical inspector of the federation and the managing director of Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Engr Tukur Tahir, in his office, yesterday, expressed concern that such an avoidable incident occured.
The minister also expressed sympathy to the injured victims during the incident.
An electricity surge had occurred in Calabar, Cross River State on Saturday, March 2, this year, leaving some individuals injured.
The electricity surge occurred at about 6:00 p.m. after a high-tension cable snapped and fell on a car, causing huge sparks that left people scampering for dear life.
Earlier reports of the incident noted that some residents tried to rescue the car from going up in flames but were electrocuted in the process and suffered some degrees of burns.
The report, submitted by Engr. Tukur, who visited the scene of the incident in Calabar South local government, Cross River State.
Following the incident, the minister had immediately directed an investigation into the incident immediately it occurred, a statement from the ministry indicated.
The ministry said the investigating team was led Tahir and top officials of NEMSA.
Recall that a video of the electrical surge began circulating on social media on Saturday, March 2, 2024.
The video showed some individuals struggling to escape the scene of the surge which led to a fire outbreak on one of the electrical poles and cables falling on some shops in the area.
Two individual later identified as Chijioke Udoji and Uzoma Anthony, traders on Chamley Street, where the incident happened were observed to have been injured.
According to Engineer Tahir, immediately the incident occurred, he had dispatched two NEMSA officials in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and Port Harcourt, Rivers State to the venue of the incident.
“On getting the information, NEMSA Management immediately dispatched her key officials in Uyo and Port Harcourt to Calabar.
They were Engr. Lucky Igweh, NEMSA Area Inspecting Engineer in Uyo Akwa Ibom State and Engr. Yusuf Jamila, Area Inspecting Engineer, Port Harcourt. They were to conduct preliminary investigation on the incident”, the report stated. Tahir said based on the submission of the report by the duo of Igweh and Jamila, he led the management of NEMSA to the venue of the incident. On the CEO’s delegation were the General Manager, Technical Services, Engr. Haruna Ndabida, the Media and Public Relations Consultant to NEMSA, Dr. Obinna Nwachukwu. The team also visited the victims of the incident at Calabar General hospital where they were receiving treatment.“We have visited the two survivors at the Calabar General hospital and we thank God that this accident did not result to loss of lives and properties. From what we saw, they are responding to treatment. It is an unfortunate but preventable accident. The utility company has owned up to it and has promised to refund the medical expenses of the victims. We urge them to do that immediately”, the report stated.
