As substandard electrical products continue to circulate widely in West Africa markets, energy expert, Ajibola Akindele, has warned that their growing use is worsening safety risks, resulting in lost of billions of dollars and the region’s economic future.

Apart from the proliferation of the substandard products, he argued that unsafe electrical practices are also increasing the likelihood of electrical fires, shocks and equipment failures in homes and businesses, leading to hundreds of deaths from the incident.

Akindele, who doubles as Country President, Schneider Electric West Africa, expressed his concern in a media chat with journalists over the weekend, where he quoted the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s data from 2021 to 2024, recording 757 electricity-related accidents, 451 fatalities and 351 people injured.

He added that in Lagos, market fires are frequent: 1,000 fire and emergency incidents were recorded in the first half of 2025 and alarmingly, 62 people died while Nigeria loses an estimated US$26 billion annually due to unreliable electricity supply, excluding off-grid fuel costs.

Ajibola, however, noted that many of these incidents stem from wire failures, unauthorised connections, vandalism, and unsafe electrical practices.

“Our region is going through exciting growth, from commercial skyscrapers in Lagos, industrial factories in Tema to rural electrification schemes in Burkina Faso, which is why the time is now to ensure the quality of electrical components are safe, reliable and offer long-term performance,” he said.

He urged governments, contractors, regulators, and end-users across the region to treat electrical infrastructure quality as a non-negotiable priority, warning that the widespread circulation of lower-quality electrical products is fuelling a silent but deadly crisis.

“If one link in this chain fails, the risk is proportionally catastrophic,” he warned, noting that some panel builders and contractors may unknowingly source lower-quality components due to cost pressures or limited availability.

“In some cases, they might even combine genuine and lower quality parts, which is downright dangerous. It increases the likelihood of electrical failure, fires, costly maintenance, and ultimately undermines trust,“ he added.
He therefore called for greater adherence to safety standards, certified products, and verified distribution channels to reduce accidents and protect lives.

He said: “Contractors, consultants, panel builders must insist on verified OEMs and certified components.
“Regulators and governments should enforce standards, crack down on counterfeit electrical goods, and support awareness campaigns.

“End users (businesses, homeowners) should demand documentation, authentic products—even if they cost more up front; because the long-term costs of failure are far higher.”