The South East Electricity Consumers Association (SEECA) has warned residents of the South-East to observe safety precautions during rainfall to prevent accidents that could lead to electrocution from fallen electricity poles and power cables.
The association also commended MainPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited for its prompt response to electricity faults, particularly the restoration of power following a vehicular accident that brought down electricity poles in New Haven, Enugu.
Speaking with newsmen in Enugu on Monday, the SEECA Coordinator, Dr. Sebastine Chukwuebuka Okafor, said observing safety precautions during rainfall, flooding, erosion and windstorms would help reduce accidents and save lives.
“Residents should avoid approaching fallen electricity poles and cables, especially during rainfall and flooding, because such installations may still be live and could cause electrocution. Safety must be everyone's priority.”
Okafor cautioned residents against undertaking personal repairs on fallen electricity poles, damaged power lines or electrical installations, stressing that such activities should only be handled by qualified personnel from the relevant electricity distribution companies.
He noted that it was better to lose property or endure days or months without electricity than to lose a human life.
The SEECA Coordinator also expressed concern over the destruction of electricity poles by haulage vehicles, noting that careless driving could damage critical infrastructure, disrupt power supply and expose residents to serious safety risks.
“Drivers of heavy-duty vehicles must understand that destroying electricity poles can disrupt power supply, endanger lives, damage property and expose people to electrocution. We appeal to them to drive responsibly and protect public infrastructure.”
He urged relevant authorities to ensure that drivers who damage electricity infrastructure are held accountable, while calling on haulage vehicle operators to exercise caution on the roads, particularly during adverse weather conditions.
Okafor commended MainPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited for its prompt intervention following the vehicular accident in New Haven, Enugu, which damaged electricity poles and disrupted power supply in affected areas.
“We appreciate MainPower for its prompt intervention and restoration of electricity following the New Haven incident. We encourage electricity distribution companies to sustain this response, strengthen routine inspections and replace weakened poles to prevent avoidable accidents.”
The SEECA Coordinator further urged residents across the South-East to promptly report fallen electricity poles, leaning poles, exposed wires, damaged electrical installations and fallen power cables to the appropriate electricity distribution companies.
He warned that failure to report such hazards could expose unsuspecting members of the public to electrocution and other life-threatening accidents.
“Whenever residents notice a fallen pole, exposed wire, damaged installation or any other electricity-related hazard, they should immediately report it to the relevant electricity distribution company and keep a safe distance from the affected area. Never assume that a cable is safe simply because there is no electricity supply. Prompt reporting can help prevent avoidable deaths and enable qualified personnel to respond quickly.”
Okafor stressed that residents should not touch, move, reconnect or repair damaged electricity infrastructure, even when power supply has been interrupted, as fallen cables and damaged installations may still be live.
He called on Political ,religious and community leaders, residents' associations and other stakeholders to intensify public awareness of electricity safety and encourage the prompt reporting of faults, while also urging residents to prioritise human life by keeping away from electrical hazards and leaving all repairs and emergency interventions to qualified personnel from the relevant electricity distribution companies.