The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Monday expressed concerns over the incessant deaths and injuries in Nigeria’s electricity sector and assured that the judiciary would intervene to curb the troubling trend.
Speaking at the 2025 National Seminar on Regulations in the Electricity Power Sector, organised for judicial officers by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja, the CJN recalled that in 2024 alone, 112 electricity-related deaths were recorded in Nigeria, alongside 95 cases of injuries of varying severity.
Apparently displeased with the trend, Justice Kekere-Ekun stressed that the judiciary must take a proactive stance in enforcing safety regulations within the electricity sector.
According to her, operators who fail to comply with safety reforms must henceforth be held accountable, while victims and their families must receive the justice they deserve.
The safety of our citizens must never be treated as incidental—it is a legal and moral imperative. I am confident that this Seminar has been designed with these urgent needs in mind.
The Nigerian electricity sector stands at a crucial inflection point. It is undergoing a significant transformation driven by decentralised renewable energy innovations, increased investments in off-grid and solar mini-grid solutions, and the emergence of a dual electricity market framework.
“These developments are reshaping not only how power is generated and distributed but also how regulatory and contractual relationships are conceived, monitored, and enforced.
“Against this backdrop, the judiciary must be prepared to meet new demands. As I stated in my remarks at the 2024 Seminar, our role extends well beyond dispute resolution.
“We are called upon to interpret legislation, uphold statutory and constitutional mandates, and ensure that justice is administered equitably in a rapidly changing sector.
