According to a report by Vanguard on Friday, May 1, 2026, operations at Egbin Power Plc have been suspended following a fatal accident involving a contractor during an underwater repair exercise at the facility.…....
The incident, which took place on Tuesday, prompted the immediate shutdown of the power station, one of Nigeria’s largest electricity generation plants and a key contributor to the national grid.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, the company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue, confirmed the development and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
He explained that emergency measures were swiftly implemented once the incident occurred, noting that all established safety, response, and reporting procedures were activated without delay.
“Following the unfortunate occurrence, our emergency response protocols were immediately put into action, and the appropriate regulatory authorities were duly informed,” Ofulue said.
He added that the company is currently working closely with relevant agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, with a comprehensive internal review also underway.
According to him, the organisation remains resolute in its commitment to workplace safety and the protection of both employees and contractors, stressing that strict operational standards would continue to be upheld.
Sources familiar with the situation disclosed that the victim was engaged in a specialised underwater task within the plant’s pump house at the time of the accident. The assignment reportedly involved handling a submerged pumping unit located within the facility’s lagoon system.
Preliminary accounts suggest that the equipment unexpectedly became operational while the diver was still within a restricted section of the system, leading to the fatal outcome.
“The contractor had entered the water to carry out a recovery or stabilisation operation on a submerged pump. Unfortunately, the machinery was activated unexpectedly, trapping him in the process,” a source revealed.
The source further indicated that the diver was fatally injured after being caught in the rotating components of the pump before rescue efforts could be completed.
The deceased was said to be affiliated with Browndive Underwater Services, a company known for providing specialised underwater engineering and maintenance services across Nigeria’s oil, gas, and maritime industries.
