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  • NEMSA makes COREN registration requirement for certification

    NEMSA makes COREN registration requirement for certification

    The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Aliyu Tukur Tahir said the agency has reinforced the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) for all individuals and firms apply for certification.

    Aliyu made this assertion during the official signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NEMSA and COREN, held at COREN Headquarters in Abuja.

    Head, Communications & Protocol at NEMSA, Mrs. Ama Umorem, who made this disclosure in a press statement quoted him as saying: “By reinforcing COREN registration requirements for all individuals and firms applying for NEMSA certification, we are creating a framework that prioritizes regulatory compliance and quality service delivery.”

    He reiterated the agency’s commitment to a strategic partnership with the Council for the COREN aimed at strengthening and advancing the Nigerian power sector for the benefit of all citizens.

    He described the MoU as a significant step toward fostering a robust and mutually beneficial relationship between both institutions, emphasizing that the collaboration will enhance the effective delivery of their respective mandates, particularly in ensuring the safety of lives and property within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

    “This partnership will enable us to consolidate efforts in promoting professionalism, accountability, and competence in the power sector,” Engr. Aliyu stated.

    READ ALSO: Tinubu orders speedy execution of approved projects

    He further noted that the agreement will facilitate efficient information sharing between both agencies, particularly on disciplinary actions and sanctions involving NEMSA-certified personnel and firms also registered with COREN.

     This will help improve transparency, enforcement, and adherence to industry standards.

    On renewable energy, Engr. Aliyu highlighted that the collaboration will promote skilled manpower development, address sector-specific engineering challenges, and uphold quality standards in certification and practices. He also disclosed that COREN will be actively represented in NEMSA’s Competency Certification Panels, reinforcing fairness and shared responsibility in the certification process.

    In his welcome address, the Registrar of COREN, Engr. Okorie Austine Uche, FNSE, FNICE, assured stakeholders that the MoU will ensure engineering regulations within the power sector are aligned with COREN’s statutory framework. He noted that the partnership represents a step forward in harmonizing regulatory efforts to achieve a more structured and effective engineering ecosystem in Nigeria.

    Also speaking at the event, the President of COREN, Engr. Prof. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, FNSE, FAEng, FNIAE, described the MoU as a milestone in COREN’s strategic realignment. “COREN recognizes the enormity of its mandate and views collaboration as a critical strategy in addressing regulatory and operational gaps,” he said.

    Engr. Abubakar further revealed that COREN is already set to commence the implementation of this partnership and has invited NEMSA to participate in several of its key committees. These include the Codes and Standards Committee, Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) Committee, the Engineering Investigative Panel, and the Disciplinary Tribunal—which addresses cases involving practitioners in the power sector. He emphasized that NEMSA is expected to take a lead role in this tribunal.

    The NEMSA-COREN partnership is poised to enhance service delivery and ensure the realization of NEMSA’s mandate of providing stable, safe, reliable, and efficient electricity networks and power systems across Nigeria.

  • Samples of World Bank 3.2m meters in our lab for certification – NEMSA

    Samples of World Bank 3.2m meters in our lab for certification – NEMSA

    The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has said samples of the 3.2 million meters under the World Bank Distribution Sector Reform Program (DISREP) are currently in its laboratory for testing and certification.

    The NEMSA Managing Director, Tukur Tahir Aliyu, broke the news to reporters in Abuja on Thursday.

    He said that no meter in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) will bypass the testing and certification process of the agency.

    “All these meters that are coming in, we will ensure they are tested and certified before they are allowed to be deployed. Those that are coming under the World Bank program, we are already in the process of certifying them.

    “Those that are coming are in our labs now. They will be tested and certified in the country. It will not be possible for them to deploy uncertified meters,” he said.

    The DISREP is targeted at supplying 3.2 million meters with 1.2 million meters in phase one, December 2024 and 1.3 million in the first quarter of 2025.

    Tahir, who is also the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, said the industry has programs targeted at bridging its metering gap.

    According to him, in addition to the DISREP, is the Presidential Metering Initiative, which is aimed at supplying seven million meters in different phases.

    He said the agency embarks on monthly safety performance rankings of the utility companies.

    He stressed, “We do carry out safety performance audits of these utility companies to ensure that they are operating safely in terms of maintenance, operations of the networks, expansion of the networks, and so forth.”

    Asked to give an insight into the findings of the latest audit, he said the agency discovered that a lot of the companies were not adhering to the approved safety procedures for the operation and maintenance of the network.

    He said, consequently, NEMSA ensured that the utility companies have all safety manuals, where all the procedures and safety requirements are well defined.

    He added that the agency also carried out audits of these utility companies to ensure that they are implementing the provisions of those safety manuals. Tahir revealed that the agency has audited about eight of the companies.

    The Managing Director said NEMSA is now back on auditing the utility companies to ensure that they are implementing the regulations in the safety manuals.

    Continuing, he said, “Some of the observations from the ones we have done so far, like we have done one or two generating plants.

    “We have done one or two DisCos, and others.  We have seen that the training of their personnel on these procedures, on these safety requirements, has been lacking.”

    The NEMSA boss said cash paucity is a major challenge in the industry, hindering utility companies from rehabilitating their ageing equipment.

    He said it has also affected the electricity networks in the country.

    Tahir was hopeful that as soon as the cash issue is resolved, there will be enough investment in the network for rehabilitation and replacement of ageing electrical materials and equipment in the network.

    He explained that some of the technical glitches arise from the feeders at the transmission and distribution points.

    He said the feeders that are meant to transfer bulk power from transmission to distribution, the 33 kV primary feeder lines, have been encumbered in so many ways by installing point load transformers and small transformers on the feeders.

    Read Also: Africa needs accurate data to develop, Jimoh Ibrahim tells World Bank

    He said although they are to carry bulk power from transmission to injection substation, when a  smaller transformers, 200 kVA, 100 kVA, 50 kVA, on those lines, each installation constitutes a fault location.

    He said any tripping from one of such locations affects the feeder, and sometimes these trippings are translated up to transmission.

    He said one of the agency’s major challenges is the issue of permanent office accommodation, calling for a permanent office accommodation.

    The Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation cited funding as another challenge for NEMSA.

    He said, “Another major challenge is inadequate funding. Since the inception of the agency, we have been having this funding challenge where we are not able to make adequate provision of those facilities.

    “Lack of that funding will lead us not to have adequate state-of-the-art test equipment that we use in our various statutory activities.

    ” That lack of funding is also affecting our provision of operational vehicles. Because when you carry out an inspection, it means you move from one location to the other.

    “You have to go to those sites. And those movements are within the entire country. So you need mobility. You need operational vehicles to do that. “Another major challenge is the issue of the number of personnel. The technical personnel, for example.”

  • NEMSA to certify electric vehicles, charging stations

    NEMSA to certify electric vehicles, charging stations

    The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) yesterday vowed to inspect, test, and certify the Electric Vehicles (EV) the Federal Government will import into the country. Its Managing Director, Aliyu Tahir, an engineer, made this known to reporters in Abuja. Insisting it is NEMSA’s mandate to certify the EV, he stressed that the agency has already written a letter to the Automotive Design and Development Council in this regard.

    His words: “Federal Government plans to run electric vehicles. We are tracking this. We have written to the agency responsible for this, that is Automotive Design and Development Council. Definitely, the electric vehicles have to be inspected, tested, and certify by NEMSA. It is our mandate.”

    Tahir, who is the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, said showcasing the charging stations with standards and specifications is one of the projects in the agency’s 2024 budget.

    “In our budget this year, we have project where we look one of these charging stations to be able to showcase the standards and specifications,” he said.

    The Managing Director also revealed that two out of the three states that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has granted oversight autonomy have requested for exception from technical enforcement from the agency.

    The Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation said, NEMSA has informed them that the Electricity Act does not provide to their requests.

    He noted that it will be technically inimical for different states to have different electrical standards and enforcement.

    “Electricity Act does not mention NEMSA handing over to any state. We have received request from one or two states asking us to hand over. We have responded accordingly,” he said.

    He however said NEMSA is ready to cooperate with all the stakeholders to ensure that the enforcement of technical standards is effectively carried out in the entire value chain.

    Tahir added that “Very soon we will engage the state governments, especially to discuss our areas of collaboration. We also intend to meet those that requested to discuss.”

    He said the agency is calling for the establishment of an Electricity Offenses Tribunal with an in-built appeal system to foster dispensation of electricity related Offenses.

    Read Also: NEMSA insists on certifying electric vehicles, charging stations

    Tahir said the Agency has issued and enforcement notice to Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Enugu Electricity Company (EEDC) and Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company.

    He noted that as at the first quarter of 2024, the agency has inspected and tested 21,681 electricity installations  out of which 13,154 have been certified 16,624 electricity networks monitored.

    He also said about  4,921 factories, hazardous installations and public places were inspected, tested and certified fit as at Q1 2024.

    Tahir noted that at at the first quarter of this year 2,655,488 electricity meters tested and calibrated while 487 incidences were investigated.

  • NEMSA insists on certifying electric vehicles, charging stations

    NEMSA insists on certifying electric vehicles, charging stations

    The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) yesterday insisted on inspecting, testing, and certifying the Electric Vehicles (EV) the Federal Government intends to import into the country.

    Managing Director Aliyu Tahir said it is NEMSA’s mandate to certify the EV, stressing that the agency has already written a letter to the Automotive Design and Development Council in this regard.

    He added: “The Federal Government plans to run electric vehicles and we are tracking this. We have written to the agency responsible for this, that is Automotive Design and Development Council. I was in contact with the DG yesterday.

    “We will visit him and we have already written our areas of collaboration. Definitely, the electric vehicles have to be inspected, tested, and certified by NEMSA. It is our mandate. Electric charging stations also have to be inspected and tested in line with our mandate.”

    Tahir, who is the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, said showcasing the charging stations with standards and specifications is one of the projects in the agency’s 2024 budget.

    The Managing Director also said two of the three states granted oversight autonomy by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has requested exception for technical enforcement from the agency.

    Read Also: NEMSA warns against engagement of uncertified electricians

    He however said the Electricity Act does not provide for their requests. Tahir noted that it will be technically inimical for different states to have different electrical standards and enforcement.

    “The Electricity Act does not mention NEMSA handing over to any state. We have received request from one or two states asking us to hand over. We have responded accordingly,” he added.

    He, however, said NEMSA is ready to cooperate with all the stakeholders to ensure the enforcement of technical standards is effectively carried out in the entire value chain.

    “Very soon, we will engage the governments, especially to discuss our areas of collaboration. We also intend to meet those that requested to discuss.”

  • NEMSA warns against engagement of uncertified electricians

    NEMSA warns against engagement of uncertified electricians

    The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Managing Director, Engr, Aliyu Tahir, has said it is more risky to engage quacks for installation of solar panels and other electrical equipment, than planting a timed bomb.

    He said: “We advise you engage the service of a certified personnel to carry out that installation because any electrical installation that you do and is carried out by quacks, it is just the same thing like wiring a time bomb within your premises and the worse thing is that you don’t even know when that bomb will explode.

    “Because when you know the time  the bomb will explode is even better for you but this one can explode anytime even when you are at home sleeping.”

    Speaking with The Nation, he urged people to always ask electricians to present their NEMSA certificates before engaging them for installation.

    Tahir, who is the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, also asked people to ensure the installation is certified fit before putting them to use.

    He said the agency has already published the guideline manual inspection of renewable energy installation, especially the solar mini- grid across the country.

    He asked utility companies in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to curb the vandalisation of their equipment with technology.

    Read Also: Terrorism: Only court can decide Nnamdi Kanu’s fate – AGF

    He was commenting on the incessant vandalisation of electrical installations, especially transmission towers across the country.

    His words: “The utility companies that own these facilities need to wake up, need to be more vigilant to ensure that these vandals are seen even before they do their vandalisation and prevent them from it.

    “So, technology has to come in, and the network has to be seen in real life. These technologies are already on ground.

    “ I am happy that some of the utility companies have woken up and they are already working on this technology to put in place to ensure this network is monitored 24 hours, seven days a week. This will go a long way to reduce the vandalism that is going on in the country.”

    He said the agency is working with the relevant agencies to ensure all the structures on the Right of Way are completely removed or demolished.

    According to him, the Electricity Act 2023 has brought in new players – the state governments, who are mainly responsible for the removal of the structures on the Right of Way.

    He noted that NEMSA has identified the structures within the Right of Way of Powerline, stressing the agency is now enforcing a directive that all the structures should be disconnected from power supply and they have been listed to the state agencies that own them for removal.

    The NEMSA boss, however, revealed that some states have already enforced the removal of structures from Right of Way.

    He added that “One or two states have acted on that. I can remember Kano State has done so. Kwara State did, and Lagos State has done.”

    The Managing Director, however, regretted that some structures are still within the Right of Way of Powerline.

    He expressed hope that with the synergy the Electricity Act 2023 has provided between the States and Federal Government, structures on the Right of Way will soon become history.

    He said in order to prevent quacks from installing substandard electrical materials in the country, the agency is collaborating with the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) to stop their proliferation of the fake materials.

    He further noted that SON is also working with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to ensure that electrical materials entering the country are of the right standard.

    Tahir added that during inspection the agency always remove the substandard materials.

     On quackery, he urged Nigerians to always asked whoever they engage for electrical installations is certified by NEMSA.

    He stressed “If you engage somebody that is not certified, you will not be able to trace him. You are not sure whether he is competent or he knows the job. Once you engage a certified person you are sure he knows the job. You can also go to our website to verify the certificate.”

    Tahir revealed that the agency has extended its certification scheme to renewable energy.

    He advised Nigerians to ensure that “when you are engaging such person, he is certified. And at the end of the certification, also ensure that the installation has been inspected, tested and certified before you can now use such installation.”

    Stressing that people must ensure the engagement of certified electrician for renewable energy installation, the NEMSA warned that “Any electrical installation that you do that is carried out by quacks, is the same thing like wiring a time bomb within your premises and the worst thing is that you don’t even know when that bomb will explode.”

    Tahir said NEMSA has carried out remodeling of inherited assets from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the Federal Ministry of Power.

    The assets, according to him, are the National Meter Test Stations in Oshodi, Port Harcourt and Kaduna, Engineering and Chemical laboratory in Ijora, Lagos and the Inspectorate Field Offices at Eko, Lagos, Sokoto, Ilori, Ibadan, Maiduguri, and Kaduna.

    He said NEMSA has also established and commissioned the Meter Generation Museum/Gallery at Oshodi, and Lagos.

    He said the ones in Port Harcourt and Kaduna are yet to be commissioned.

    He also revealed that NEMSA has achieved 21,681 electrical installations projects that have been inspected and tested, out of which 13,154 have been certified.

    Tahir said the agency has monitored 16,624 electricity networks, and inspected, tested, and certified fit 4,921 factories, hazardous installations and public places.

    According to him, NEMSA has tested and calibrated 2,655,488 electricity meters and investigated 487 incidences.

  • NEMSA to operators: use technology to address vandalisation of electrical installations

    NEMSA to operators: use technology to address vandalisation of electrical installations

    The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency on Thursday, May 23, urged utility companies in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to curb the vandalisation of their equipment with technology.

    The NESI’s managing director, Aliyu Tahir, disclosed this in Abuja.

    He was commenting on the incessant vandalization of electrical installations, especially transmission towers across the country.

    He said: “The utility companies that own these facilities need to wake up, need to be more vigilant to ensure that these vandals are seen even before they do their vandalization and prevent them from it.

    “So, technology has to come in, and the network has to be seen in real life. These technologies are already on the ground.

    “I am happy that some of the utility companies have woken up and they are already working on this technology to put in place to ensure this network is monitored 24 hours, seven days a week. This will go a long way to reduce the vandalism that is going on in the country.”

    Tahir, who is also the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, said the agency is working with the relevant agencies to ensure all the structures on the Right of Way are completely removed or demolished.

    According to him, the Electricity Act 2023 has brought in new players – the state governments, who are mainly responsible for the removal of the structures on the Right of Way.

    He noted that NEMSA has identified the structures within the Right of Way of Powerline, stressing the agency is now enforcing a directive that all the structures should be disconnected from power supply and they have been listed to the state agencies that own them for removal.

    The NEMSA boss, however, revealed that some states have already enforced the removal of structures from Right of Way.

    He added: “One or two states have acted on that. I can remember Kano State has done so. Kwara State did, and Lagos State has done.”

    Read Also: NEMSA cries out over market under vandalized transmission towers

    The Managing Director, however, regretted that some structures are still within the Right of Way of Powerline.

    He expressed hope that with the synergy the Electricity Act 2023 has provided between the States and Federal Government, structures on the Right of Way will soon become history.

    He said to prevent quacks from installing substandard electrical materials in the country, the agency is collaborating with the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) to stop the proliferation of fake materials.

    He further noted that SON is also working with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to ensure that electrical materials entering the country are of the right standard.

    Tahir added that during inspection the agency always removes the substandard materials.

     On quackery, he urged Nigerians to always ask whoever they engage for electrical installations to be certified by NEMSA.

    He stressed: “If you engage somebody that is not certified, you will not be able to trace him. You are not sure whether he is competent or he knows the job. Once you engage a certified person you are sure he knows the job. You can also go to our website to verify the certificate.”

    Tahir revealed that the agency has extended its certification scheme to renewable energy.

    He advised Nigerians to ensure that “when you are engaging such person, he is certified. And at the end of the certification, also ensure that the installation has been inspected, tested, and certified before you can now use such installation.”

    Stressing that people must ensure the engagement of certified electricians for renewable energy installation, the NEMSA warned that “Any electrical installation that you do that is carried out by quacks, is the same thing like wiring a time bomb within your premises and the worst thing is that you don’t even know when that bomb will explode.”

    Tahir said NEMSA has carried out remodelling of inherited assets from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the Federal Ministry of Power.

    The assets, according to him, are the National Meter Test Stations in Oshodi, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna, the Engineering and Chemical laboratory in Ijora, Lagos, and the Inspectorate Field Offices at Eko, Lagos, Sokoto, Ilori, Ibadan, Maiduguri, and Kaduna.

    He said NEMSA has also established and commissioned the Meter Generation Museum/Gallery at Oshodi, and Lagos.

    He said the ones in Port Harcourt and Kaduna are yet to be commissioned.

    He also revealed that NEMSA has achieved 21,681 electrical installation projects that have been inspected and tested, out of which 13,154 have been certified.

    Tahir said the agency has monitored 16,624 electricity networks, and inspected, tested, and certified fit 4,921 factories, hazardous installations, and public places.

    According to him, NEMSA has tested and calibrated 2,655,488 electricity meters and investigated 487 incidences.

  • NEMSA tests, calibrates over 2.6metres

    NEMSA tests, calibrates over 2.6metres

    The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) yesterday revealed that it has tested and calibrated  2,655,488 meters.

    Its Managing Director, Engr. Aliyu Tukur Tahir, broke the news in a meeting with editors and Bureau Chiefs in Abuja.

     He said: “2,655,488 Electricity Meters Tested and Calibrated.”

    Tahir, who is also the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation also disclosed that the agency has inspected and tested 21,681 Electricity Installations projects out of which 13,154 have been certified.

    According to him, NEMSA has monitored 16,624 electricity networks.

    He added that the agency has inspected, tested and certified fit about 4,921 factories, hazardous installations and public places.

    Tahir said NEMSA has investigated 487 incidences.

        NEMSA, he said, has successfully obtained re-certification of its Quality Management System (QMS) ISO 9001:2015 standard, issued by the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) on 4th March, 2020.

        According to him, this is a strategic achievement that is already enhancing the overall performance of the agency and providing operational thoroughness and a sound basis for sustainable development initiatives.

        He added that the agency has successfully been recertified with QMS ISO NEMSA is thus among the first Government Agencies to be ISO Certified.

        He also revealed that the agency has successfully undergone its second Post-Certification Surveillance Audit by SON.

        NEMSA, said the Managing Director, has also achieved accreditation of its certification of electrical personnel schemes, ISO/IEC 17024.

        He noted that NEMSA has already started the process of accrediting its laboratories under ISO/IEC 17025.

        He said NEMSA has published the following guideline manual to guide the electrical installation works across the county namely; Nigerian Electrical Installation and Construction Guidelines manual for the distribution subsector, Guidelines for the Inspection of Solar Mini-grids in Nigeria, Guidelines for the Inspectorate Services in Nigeria, Guidelines for the recertification of Electricity Energy Meters in the circuit.

         Tahir reiterated the fact that the roles, responsibilities, and functions of NEMSA are very critical in the power sector and at the same time enormous.

    Read Also: Tinubu, Kyari will stimulate economic prosperity – Hassan

        He said: “For instance, for effective coverage of the length and breadth of the country, enough engineers and technical personnel are needed.

        “Thankfully, the government is doing its bit in this direction. However, with the evolving global trend in electricity generation, transmission and distribution, especially as the world is tilting towards renewable energy, there is need for our engineers and technical staff to be trained and retrained.

        “This training will provide the requisite knowledge our engineers need. In order to provide NEMSA wider coverage across the country, more Inspectorate Field Offices will be created in all states in Nigeria.

        “We are determined as an Enforcement Agency to continue to carry out our statutory function of Technical Inspection, Testing and Certification of all electrical materials and equipment in the NESI.

        “With your support as members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, we are confident that we will achieve our mandate of ensuring safe use of electricity and safety of lives and property in the NESI.”

        He recalled that the agency was established by NEMSA ACT-2015 to carry out the functions of enforcement of technical standards and regulations, technical inspection, testing and certification of all categories of electrical installations, electricity meters, and instruments, to ensure the efficient production and delivery of Safe, reliable and sustainable electricity power supply and guarantee safety of lives and property in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, industries/workplaces/premises in Nigeria and other allied places.

  • NEMSA charges DisCos, TCN to install protectors

    Amid the rising incidence of the blame game among the operators in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) yesterday called on the electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to install fault protectors that can prevent unforeseen incidents. The TCN had claimed the DisCos’ rejection of load allocation trips-off some of its transformers and other equipment.

    But the NESA Managing Director, Engr. Peter Ewesor, who spoke with The Nation in Abuja, said that the best option of preventing such a fault, is for the respective operators to get standard protection schemes against any reflective fault. He technically described the scenario as that of non utilized load rather than load rejection, stressing that the DisCos are only accepting what they can sell for money.

    His words: “But there are other ways of making sure that the load is not utilized and how it causes challenges to TCN is what I cannot tell you more because I think along the power chain value system, every sector should have appropriate protection against any unforeseen incidences that happen to their system. So the GenCos, TCN, distribution companies should have appropriate protection Standard schemes to protect against any reflected fault that could happen from any side.”

    Ewesor revealed that the level of compliance with the directive that DisCos should not supply premium customers from 33KV and put the underprivileged ones in perpetual darkness, has been very low. He added that “We are making sure they (DisCos) comply. Once we discover it we ask them to disconnect, we are having real fight with them which we are not deterred to fight for the benefit of Nigerians.” He noted that the directive that customers should not accept meters that have no NEMSA seals has started yielding results as people have started complaining about such meters which the concerned DisCos have returned to their suppliers.

     

  • NEMSA to sanction DisCos over substandard equipment

    The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) will punish any electricity distribution company (DisCo) that uses substandard equipment, its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter Ewesor, has said.

    He said the sanction ranged from a fine of at least N500, 000 to prosecution.

    He said the decision to impose sanctions on the firms was borne out of the need to make them comply with their rules and regulations.

    In an interview with The Nation, he said the agency had warned the DisCos against using substandard materials and equipment, adding that non-compliance would attract punishment.

    He said the agency has directed  the power firms to disconnect buildings on the Right of Ways (ROW) of power lines because of the hazards.

    He said the agency had issued an enforcement order to power firms and their contractors on the use of substandard electrical equipment.

    He said the directive issued between June 2017 and last December led to the disconnection of 1,205 buildings across the country, adding the measures were being taken to restore sanity in the sector.

    He said apart from undertaking responsibility in ensuring that customers get standard meters, the agency has also inspected poles manufacturing firms.

    NEMSA, Ewesor said, has inspected the 71 concrete poles manufacturing firms and certified 31. He said 40 firms were not given the green light, but were asked to correct certain areas and re-apply.

    According to him, NEMSA is insisting that new electrical networks and installations were inspected, tested and certified for use  to reduce the dangers in using such facilities.

    He said the agency stopped DisCos and contractors from undertaking substandard and bad construction practices in the power and allied sectors, to improve the use of quality and danger prevention equipment, adding that lives and properties are in danger of being lost to fire when substandard electrical equipment are used.

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) had seized substandard electrical products. Also, the agency has warned importers of substandard products to desist or face prosecution.

  • Fed Govt advises NEMSA on meters, transformers

    The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing yesterday directed the Nigeria Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA) to encourage the electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to provide innovative meters to their customers.

    It urged the DisCos to go beyond the former ways of providing meters, stressing that there must meters that meet the present day technical reality.

    The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Louis Edozein, who represented the Minister, Babatunde Fashola at the second NEMSA stakeholders forum in Abuja, said power generation and transmission had improved significantly but the distribution chain of the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry was yet to meet up with the available capacities.

    He urged the DisCos to accelerate the roll out of meters to their customers, who were already agitating against crazy estimated billings owing to lack of meters.

    According to him, the ministry and the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission  (NERC) promulgated the Meter Assets Provider (MAP) regulation to tackle the challenges of metering.

    The last census that the commission conducted, according to him, showed that there were over 12million consumers in the industry, and most of them had no meters.

    He said: “There are two shortcomings that we have observed. The first one is meters, I am sure we all know that customers all over the country are agitating because when they get bills and it is not measured. This is why the ministry has been questioning the DisCos. Please accelerate your meter roll out.

    “That is why the ministry worked with the regulator to promulgate the MAP Regulation in order to meter the consumers in the market.”

    According to him, there were new technology of quickly rolling out meters.

    Fashola said: “NEMSA, this is where you have to be more creative and innovative. There are new technologies emerging for roll out of 33Kv infrastructure, and 11Kv infrastructure cheaper. There are new storage technologies; the utilisation of capacitors. I want to challenge NEMSA, encourage the operators… to innovate, create, that is the way you will grow this industry and satisfy our customers better.”

    Earlier, the NEMSA Managing Director, Engr. Peter Ewesor, said what contributed to poor power supply and electric accidents in the country included the poor state of distribution network.