Tragedy struck in Owo, Ondo state, on Friday, March 10, 2023, as a five-month-old baby and mother were reportedly killed by generator smoke they inhaled overnight.
Reports had it that the family purchased the generator on Monday and it caused their death on Friday, March 10, 2023.
The deceased, identified as Tawa, and her husband were staffers of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Owo.
Doctors at the hospital are battling to save the life of the husband currently in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, ICU.
A reliable source told journalists that the generator was purchased by the family on Monday and the unfortunate happened on weekend, when they put it on overnight.
The deceased was said to have called her elder sister on Thursday evening, saying that her baby was sick and that she would be bringing the baby to her.
It was reliably gathered that when the deceased’s sister got to her sister’s place of work at about 1pm, she was told that neither she nor the husband were at work.
The deceased’s elder sister and the couple’s co-workers reportedly went to their house and met the door locked.
They had to break in; then found them lying unconscious, while the baby was dead.
They were later rushed to the FMC, where the wife later died, while the husband is said to be in a critical condition.
Contacted, the state police command image maker, Funmi Odunlami, said that the matter had not been reported at the police division in Owo.
But she promised to contact the Divisional Police Officer DPO, Owo, and get back.
TRAGIC: Generator Fume Kills Family Of 4 In Kwara
Fume emitted from generator exhaust has allegedly killed four members of a family in Kwara State.
The tragic incident occurred at their Ojomu family house in Sanmora, Irepodun local government area.
A family source said the deceased slept leaving their generating set on inside the house.
The source said the neighbours had to break into the house to see the gory sight.
“The family of four slept leaving their generator on inside the house.
“We discovered their lifeless bodies early this morning, the head of the house, his two wives, and one of his children were all dead.
“Two of the family members who were unconscious as at the time of our breaking in have been rushed to the hospital. Although they are both in critical conditions, it is our prayer they survive,” he said.
Ajayi Okasanmi, the Kwara police spokesperson confirmed the incident.
Okasanmi added two other members of the family were recuperating in an unnamed hospital.
Nigerian Economy Won’t Grow If We Rely On Generators For Power – Manufacturers Association
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, has said the Nigerian economy cannot grow if industries continue to rely on electricity generators for power supply.
Adawari Pepple, the chairman, Rivers/Bayelsa States Branch of MAN, explained that an economy that had been generator-driven for a long time would not be able to compete with other economies with regular power supply.
Pepple, who spoke in a telephone chat with journalists on Saturday, July 11, 2020, explained that members of the association were always facing the challenge of irregular power supply and had always relied on generators.
He pointed out that the situation had always affected the cost of production, adding that the power distribution and generation companies must raise their game and help to improve the economy.
Pepple noted that for the Nigerian economy to compete with developed economies, the government must begin to address the issue of irregular power supply.
He expressed surprise that Discos were seeking tariff increase without providing regular power supply to Nigerians.
“There should be regular power before you talk about tariff increase. It has always been the position of MAN that our sector and, in fact, the Nigerian economy cannot be generator-driven; it has to be power distribution-driven to develop.
“The cost of diesel is so astronomically high, though this is not only in Nigeria. But if you want to hinge your development on diesel and petrol, you are definitely not going to be competitive with other nations or other economies.
“So, it is a wake-up call for our government to hold on to the Discos and other relevant power generation firms to render their services if the industrial sector has to grow,” Pepple said.
On the recent increase in petrol pump price, the MAN chairman said it would have an adverse effect on the Nigerian market, adding that there would be increases in the prices of goods.
He said, “So, the recent increase in the price of petrol will definitely affect the Nigerian market. For the manufacturing sector, most of us are running our businesses on power generators with diesel and petrol.
“This will increase the cost of production and ultimately increase the prices of goods; it will affect the market generally.
“Again, with the recent increase in the price of petrol, I don’t know what the response of the power sector will be, but we have always called on Discos to raise their game and improve their services to the Nigerian people.”
Source: Vanguard
