Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has described the Saturday June 14 tragic electrical accident in the Tudun Wada Pantami area of Gombe State that claimed five lives and injured 13, as avoidable, if Jos DisCo had heeded its proactive directives.

In a statement on Sunday signed by Mrs. Ama Umoren, and made available to New National Star, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEMSA, who also doubles as the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Engr. Aliyu Tukur Tahir, expressed sadness but laid the blame of the ugly incident on Jos DisCo’s refusal to adhere to instructions.

He said: “From the report of the preliminary investigation, it can be said that this is an unfortunate but preventable incident had the Jos DISCO heeded previous warnings from NEMSA to rectify and correct observed faults on the network.

“The failure of Jos utility company to carryout regular maintenance on the network as, at, and when due, led to this avoidable accident.

“For instance, on 30th April, this year, NEMSA in a letter Ref: NEMSA/TS/TS&IS/IFO-BAU/097/V.1,  wrote to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Jos Electricity Distribution Company Plc, drawing his attention to defects observed by NEMSA officials on the networks within Gombe metropolis which are negatively impacting on the efficient delivery of service and posed great risk to safety of lives and property of electricity consumers and citizens within the network.

“The utility company was consequently advised to effect immediate repairs on the network to avoid ugly incident such as the one that just happened. Unfortunately, that advise was ignored by the Jos DISCO.”

NEMSA explained that the technical evaluations revealed that the incident was triggered by a structural failure of a high-tension (11kV) wooden cross-arm support, which led to the detachment of the red phase high-tension conductor which made direct contact with a low-voltage (400V) line below, causing a dangerous voltage surge into residential houses.

The impact, it said, resulted in widespread electrical sparks, severe electric shocks, and the electrocution of five individuals with several residents sustaining varying degrees of injuries while trying to disconnect their power supplies to their homes and electrical appliances including televisions, refrigerators, and meters which were extensively damaged.