By Hosea Parah, Abuja
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has received the report of the electricity surge incident that occurred in Calabar on Saturday, March 2, leaving several individuals injured. The report was submitted by the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation and the Managing Director of Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Engineer Tukur Tahir, who visited the scene of the incident in Calabar South Local Government, Cross River State.
Expressing sympathy for the injured victims, Minister Adelabu vowed to ensure that such avoidable incidents do not recur in the future. Immediately after the incident, he directed an investigation into the matter, which was led by Engineer Tahir and top officials of NEMSA.
The video footage of the electrical surge, which circulated on social media, depicted individuals struggling to escape the scene as a fire broke out on one of the electrical poles, causing cables to fall on nearby shops. Two traders, identified as Chijioke Udoji and Uzoma Anthony, sustained injuries during the incident.
Engineer Tahir promptly dispatched two NEMSA officials to the site in Calabar, while he personally led the NEMSA management team to investigate the incident. The team also visited the injured victims at Calabar General Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
“We have visited the two survivors at Calabar General Hospital, and we thank God that this accident did not result in loss of lives and properties. From what we saw, they are responding well to treatment. It is an unfortunate but preventable accident. The utility company has taken responsibility for the incident and has promised to refund the medical expenses of the victims. We urge them to fulfill this commitment immediately,” stated Engineer Tahir.
The Minister of Power has assured the public that measures will be put in place to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future. The safety and well-being of citizens remain a top priority, and the government is committed to ensuring a reliable and secure electricity supply across the country.
As investigations continue, the Minister emphasized the importance of adherence to safety standards and urged utility companies to maintain regular inspections and maintenance of electrical infrastructure