Jos DisCo complicit in Gombe electrocution – NEMSA

The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has accused the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) of being complicit in the electrocution that caused the death of five persons in Gombe State.

Recall that five persons were declared dead and 13 others injured following a surge in electricity on Saturday 14th June, 2025, at the Tudun Wada Pantami area of Gombe State.

But NEMSA in a statement by its Head, Communications and Protocol Unit, Ama Umoren, on Sunday said the incident would have been avoided if JEDC made corrections to electrical faults it identified in the company’s network.

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“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 incidents such as the one that just happened. Unfortunately, that advice was ignored by Jos DISCO.

It added that its investigation on the incident showed it was caused by the use of aged, untreated/deteriorated wooden cross arms in the distribution network, absence of standard protective devices (such as circuit breakers and RCDs) in consumer installations.

“Aged low-tension conductors, poorly maintained substations, and inadequate clearances between high-tension lines and residential structures. Failure of the protection and tripping unit at the Riyal Injection Substation, attributed to the use of non-functional battery bank which allowed the fault to persist until human intervention occurred.

“From the report of the preliminary investigation, it can be said that this is an unfortunate but preventable incident had the Jos DISCO headed previous warnings from NEMSA to rectify and correct observed faults on the network. The failure of Jos utility company to carry out regular maintenance on the network as, at, and when due, led to this avoidable accident

While the agency expressed its deepest condolences to the government and people of Gombe state especially the families of the deceased during the sad moment, it assured the public of its commitment to ensuring safety in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

It added that the agency will be working closely with JEDC and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the replacement of dilapidated infrastructure in the affected area, enforce the installation of proper protective devices in residential and public buildings and conduct thorough safety inspections across the distribution network.