By
Idowu Oyebanjo
Electrocution is
basically death caused by an electric shock. While this is not a favoured
topic, it is important to expose the facts about the Nigerian Power System and
the high potential that it possesses to cause more deaths due to electrocution
in the short to medium term if things are done improperly as they are now.
One of the anti-climax
of not having stable electricity for over 50 years now in Nigeria is the
fact that one did not hear so much of deaths due to electric shock from
electrical appliances or devices. This is mainly because there was no “light”.
With the recent increase in availability of gas to power stations, and the
attendant availability of electricity supply, the weakness of the power system
will come to the fore and more electrical safety accidents are bound to occur.
Unfortunately, because electricity is a good servant but a bad master, the
fatal results of not following electrical principles in the design, operation,
maintenance and control of the power system is death by electrocution! In the
last few weeks alone, we have had the death of a staff of one of the
electricity companies while he was carrying out his day to day activities on a
power line. But more recently, the case of Oluchi Anekwe, a 3rd year student at
the University of
Lagos has reinforced the
calls by experts for a holistic review of the operation of the Nigerian Power
System.