Electrical safety ‘non-negotiable’ in West Africa’s urbanisation

Electrical safety is non-negotiable in the urbanisation of West Africa, writes Ajibola Akindele MFR, country president, Schneider Electric West Africa

West Africa’s urban economies are experiencing noteworthy growth. From new residential estates to modern hospitals and hotels, construction activity is reaching impressive levels. Cities such as Lagos, Nigeria, Accra in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire’s Abidjan are expanding in both height and sheer footprint, driven by rising demand for housing, healthcare infrastructure, and commercial spaces.

However, there is also fundamental hurdle to cross, how does the industry ensure safety keeps pace with development. In some cases, infrastructure needs outstrip regulatory enforcement, and cost or time pressures may lead to shortcuts in installation practices.

And unfortunately, the results can be catastrophic: buildings that appear state-of-the-art conceal electrical vulnerabilities that pose risks to people, equipment, and long-term investment.

Imagine a luxury hotel undergoes renovations to add more rooms and conference facilities. Instead of using certified surge protection devices and arc fault detection systems, the cheaper, substandard alternatives are installed.

Within months, a power surge damages critical equipment and causes a small electrical fire in a utility room. And whilst no one is hurt, the hotel suffers reputational damage, financial losses, and unexpected downtime.

The real risks

Today, electrical safety isn’t just about ticking compliance boxes, it’s about protecting people, equipment and infrastructure.

According to the US’ National Fire Protection Association National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) home electrical systems are responsible for over 46,000 fires and nearly 400 deaths annually. In fast-growing markets like West Africa, where infrastructure expansion often outpaces enforcement, the risks can be even more prevalent.

Therefore, when taking a closer look at the electrical safety hazards, it poses the following, very real risks:

Fire hazards: faulty installations or overloaded circuits can spark devastating fires.

Equipment damage: overvoltage and surges can destroy expensive equipment.

Human risk: electrical shock remains one of the most serious hazards, with outcomes ranging from injury to fatality.

Electrical safety is the core of innovation

At Schneider Electric, safety is not an optional feature, it forms the very foundation of our business. We work hand-in-hand with builders, contractors, and electricians across Africa to ensure buildings are powered safely and sustainably from day one.

Our portfolio of electrical protection products is designed to meet the ‘three golden rules’ of safety:

Protection of people: residual current circuit breakers (RCCB prevent electrocution.

Protection of equipment: surge protection devices (SPD) guard against costly voltage spikes.

Protection against fire: arc fault detection devices (AFDD) reduce the risk of electrical fires caused by hidden faults.

Here, ranges like our Easy9, Resi9, and Acti9 Active modular range of circuit protection and distribution systems provide all-in-one protection that is accessible, reliable, and trusted by professionals worldwide.

Building trust through awareness

There is still a lack of awareness regarding the various electrical hazards and their resultant solutions. It is here that education is vital in building a marketplace that is safe and informed.

At Schneider Electric we are not only protecting equipment and property but safeguarding the humans that occupy it.

We are addressing this gap by: partnering with homebuilders and contractors to ensure they have access to quality products and training; educating electricians and consumers on the importance of certified electrical safety solutions; and supporting compliance with international and national standards, ensuring that West Africa’s rapid growth is also safe and sustainable.

In the end, developers, contractors, and governments in West Africa must work together to raise safety standards, and manufacturers like Schneider Electric are ready to provide the expertise and products to make that possible.

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