An investigation has commenced into the death of a contractor at Egbin Power Plc following an industrial accident during underwater maintenance operations at its Lagos facility.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, led to a partial shutdown of the plant and its disconnection from the national grid.
Checks showed that the power station generated zero megawatts on Wednesday and Thursday after security operatives shut down operations to enable investigations.
Sources said the deceased, a diver engaged for maintenance work within the plant’s lagoon-based pump house, was trapped after a pump reportedly came on unexpectedly while he was working inside the water system.
The incident triggered immediate suspension of activities in the affected section, which later extended to a broader shutdown of the facility.
In a statement, the company confirmed the development and expressed condolences to the victim’s family.
“Egbin Power Plc acknowledges a tragic incident involving a contractor during underwater maintenance activities at its plant. The board and management of Egbin Power express deep sorrow and extend heartfelt condolences to the family, loved ones, and colleagues of the deceased. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
“Immediately following the incident, established emergency response, safety, and reporting protocols were activated, and the relevant authorities were promptly notified. Egbin Power is cooperating with relevant law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders as part of ongoing efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. A thorough review of the situation is currently underway.
“Egbin Power remains firmly committed to the health, safety, and well-being of all personnel and contractors and to maintaining the highest standards across its operations,” the statement read.
The company, which has an installed capacity of 1,320 megawatts, is Nigeria’s largest power generation plant.
The incident has also contributed to electricity outages in some areas, highlighting the impact of the shutdown on the national grid.
Industry data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission indicates that most recent fatalities in the sector have been recorded in distribution companies, making the latest development a rare occurrence within generation companies in recent months.