By: Ajibola Akindele MFR - Country President, Schneider Electric West Africa

In West Africa, the integrity of electrical infrastructure must become a non-negotiable prerequisite.  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. 

At the heart of a reliable electrical system lies standardisation, therefore using products that meet certified safety, performance, and environmental benchmarks. In West Africa, this standardisation ensures that systems are interoperable, safe for people, and resilient when used in retrofits or new builds.

But unfortunately, and a perpetual challenge - across many markets in the region - is the circulation of lower-quality or unverified electrical products. Whilst it may look like reputable brands, these products often lack the engineering, rigorous testing, or compliance certifications that ensure safety under load, ambient heat, moisture, or surges. 

Supporting the above are some stark, pertinent facts:

• According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC, from 2021 to 2024, there have been 757 recorded electricity-related accidents. These resulted in 451 fatalities and 351 injuries. Many accidents stem from wire snaps, unauthorised connections, vandalism, unsafe practices or conditions. 
• 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.
• Nigeria loses an estimated US$26 billion annually due to unreliable electricity supply, excluding off-grid fuel costs

The value chain

Today, electrical projects involve many stakeholders, which include consultants, contractors, panel builders, installers, regulators. Each of these specialists play a fundamental role; if one link in this chain fails, the risk is proportionally catastrophic.

Some panel builders or contractors may unknowingly buy lower-quality components because it is cheaper or easier to source. 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.

It is here where OEMs like Schneider Electric are investing in not only exceptional product quality but also partner education, regulatory engagement, and awareness campaigns.  This all ensures that the entire value chain understands the costs and dangers of substandard components.

Guaranteeing authenticity 

But how do contractors, consultants, and system integrators ensure product quality, safety and reliability? By partnering directly with OEMs or their certified distributors and panel builders; a fundamental first step.

At Schneider Electric, we make this process transparent; our approved vendors are listed on our official website, and we also have signage and verification systems so customers can identify trusted sources.

Partnering with OEMs offer the following important benefits:

• OEMs back their products with warranties, replacements, and after-sales service.
• Local technical expertise from the OEM provides support during design, installation, and maintenance.
• Product traceability: many OEM-produced components have bar codes, QR codes, or testing certificates that allow users to verify authenticity.

Schneider Electric has over 180 years of experience globally and has built its reputation on delivering products that meet strict global and regional standards.

Indeed,  our solutions undergo rigorous testing, product development, and we engage with local standards bodies to ensure relevance and safety under West African conditions, be it heat, humidity, power surges or load fluctuations,

Ensuring quality electrical installations in West Africa goes beyond regulatory compliance which is why stakeholder support is so important:

• 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.

Ultimately, by partnering  OEMs and their official distribution channels, West Africa can overcome reliability issues while and most-importantly protecting lives, safeguard assets, and contribute to more resilient, sustainable energy systems.