The preponderance of electrical fires is a major national concern that demands immediate attention. Arson is erroneously and usually suspected. But electrical faults are the primary culprits, causing these significant losses, hopelessness, insecurity and hindering national progress. From Lagos to Maiduguri, Calabar to Sokoto electrical fires pose a severe threat, threatening to engulf homes and businesses across Nigeria. This post explores the underlying causes and offer practical solutions aiming at safeguarding the society, our infrastructure, productivity and common wealth.

Here are the most common culprits:

1. Aging Infrastructure. Most of the building and facilities in Nigeria are aged and old with outdated electrical infrastructure, that are not capable of handling modern electrical loads both in capacity and content. This mismatch lead to overheating and eventual ignition. 2. Improper Wiring and Overloaded Circuits.   Unprofessional and do it yourself (DIY) electrical installations often result in improper wiring. Circuits are overloaded with too many extensions, appliances and cause cables to overheat. A sure recipe for fire disaster. 3. Use of Substandard Electrical Materials Our markets are flooded with cheap, substandard electrical materials that fail to meet basic safety standards. No thanks to the current exchange rate. These substandard materials are usually undersized, insulation poor and are prone to malfunctioning, overheating and is easily the origin of fire. 4. Lack of Regular Maintenance. Neglecting regular checks, maintenance and necessary upgrade of electrical systems make room for deterioration of components, which cause spark fire. 5. Power Surges and Fluctuations Nigeria’s power supply is often unstable and unreliable, due to network switching events, weather and environmental conditions of the the transmission and distribution power lines. Resulting in power surges that damage equipment, appliances and cause fires.

 Practical Mitigation Strategies

Awareness is the first step toward prevention. Having an understanding of the likely causes, one can implement targeted strategies to reduce these risks of electrical fires, simply by; 1. Upgrading Electrical Infrastructure Investment in modern, standardized robust electrical systems is key. These include but not limited to proper facility/building electrical planning, design, installation and commissioning to best practices and regular updates to meet current standards. 2. Professional Installations and Repairs. Hiring qualified and reputable electrical firms for installations and repairs is critical. Their experience and expertise ensure that performance wiring is done correctly and safely. 3. Quality Over Cost          Always opt for quality electrical materials that meet or exceed safety standards, even when they come at a higher price. They usually do. Remember “the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.” – Benjamin Franklin A quality investment is worth it. When it comes to fire prevention. 4. Regular Maintenance Scheduling routine inspections of your electrical systems to identify and fix potential hazards before they become time bombs. 5. Surge Protection Always use appropriate surge protectors to safeguard your equipment and sensitive electronics from voltage disturbances, downtime and ultimately fire. 6. Public Education Electrical fires are preventable. Public awareness and action against electrical fires, ital. When we empower ourselves with necessary HSE knowledge, drills and take proactive actions. We are protecting our homes, our communities, and our nation from the ravages of electrical fires. Are you ready to be a part of the solution? Share this post with your friends and family to raise awareness. But if you are considering an upgrade for your facility electrical system or fire prevention. Is your facility electrical system outdated or aged, improperly wired with substandard materials or you want to know more about electrical fire safety? Your objective is to have a resilient fire proof and reliable electrical infrastructure. Whatever, wherever and whenever your industry. Fullspectrum Solutions your reliable solution provider is just a click or a call away.   Victor Oyedu, FNSE, FNIEEE, CPQ. Power Quality and Energy Management Specialist. Publisher at Afrienergyonline.com CEO, FullSpectrum Energy Solutions Limited, Nigeria.