The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NEMSA

  • Community gives FG condition relocating from power line

    …as NEMSA insists government has compensated residents

     

    Iperun district in Ogun State has given the Federal Government conditions for relocating from power line, in accordance with the right of way policy of the government.

    The residents have told the government that although their lives and property are under threat from the hazards of the high tension, the only condition that they would relocate from their present abode is if the government resettles them.

    They predicated their reason on the fact that their houses that were built in 1957 to 1958 predated the power line.

    Already the electricity Distribution Company (DisCo) has disconnected the houses from power supply while the Federal Government is liaising with the state governments to clear all structure on right of way.

    This was aired in the Service and Safety Half Hour on Radio Nigeria, sponsored by the Nigeria Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA), which The Nation monitored at the weekend.

    Whereas the agency’s Managing Director, Engr. Peter Ewesor insisted that the Federal Government has already compensated the residents in the past, the residents said that they were only given N33,000 in 2015 for inconveniences, and that it was too meager to be called a compensation.

    Ewesor warned that “it is not sufficient to say that I don’t have the money to build the kind of house I built. But I will tell you one thing: all structures that are compensated under the right of way are compensated commensurately to what you already have where the line is being built. So, as I am telling them is that it is better to leave the line, stay a live so that you can do better things.”

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    Speaking, Ewesor, who is the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, on safety ground said that “the advice I have been giving to them is that some of them should remember that there are people who are actually not under the line that had the misfortune of fire and all their property have been raised down. They have the life to start a new life because it is better for someone to lose his property than for him to lose his own life.”

    The Chief Executive Officer noted that the residents on the power line are exposing their health to the radiation from the electricity, which he said could destroy the body cells to the extent that they would not function effectively.

    77-year-old Ahmed Adesina of 19, Agabra Street, Iperun, said that “my house has been there before the power line. So, my house is not good to be on the power line. They (government) should help us to build house for us to relocate all of us. We are ready to move if the government is ready to help us like what they did in Abeokuta.”

    Another resident, Tope Otaiku of 12 Dabira Street, Iperun, said that “our house has been here since 1957. Our father who built it is dead and we cannot afford to build a new house. Our request is for government to resettle us.”

    Makale Mayodele of Dabra Estate accepted that he has been under the transmission line since 1957.

    He stressed that in 1958, the “power line met us here. Those workers (electricity employees were living in our house. They were putting their equipment in our house. So we didn’t know that it was something that could be dangerous to our lives. From 60s to 70s nobody told us that it could be dangerous to us. In 1988, the government gave us money for inconveniencing us. It was not for compensation for demolition. That money was N33,000 in 2015.“

  • FG set to demolish houses under power line

    …DisCos begins disconnection of structure under high tension

    …as NEMSA trains 70 electrical inspector

     

    Following the Federal Government policy that prohibits the building of any houses and other structures under the power line, the Nigeria Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA), on Monday insisted that government will definitely remove the structures.

    The Managing Director, of the agency, Engr. Peter Ewesor, disclosed this to reporters after declaring open, the induction and capacity building for 70 NEMSA engineers undergoing training at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) in Abuja.

    Ewesor, who is also the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, revealed that owing to the implementation of the policy, the 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) have already commenced the disconnection of such structures under the high tension across the country.

    According to him, state governments have already inaugurated committees to remove the structure under the power line in their respective states. The disconnection exercise, according to him, is to discourage the dwellers from living under the power line.

    Ewesor explained that, owing to the situation report from the DisCos, interestedly, the owners of the structures are complying willingly because they have realized the risk of living under the power line.

    The NEMSA boss said that: “Recently the Federal Government has made a policy of ensuring that all the infrastructure and structures built within the right of way are actually removed.

    “As a first step of the policy, it is to ensure that all those infrastructure within the right of way, either within or under the power transmission line are first and foremost disconnected. And since after the policy, we have followed up with the DisCos and the Transmission Company of Nigeria to ensure that as the first step, these premises are disconnected to deter them to continue to stay under the line.

    “And a lot of state governments are setting up committees to ensure that even beyond the disconnection of the premises from the power supply system, that they are equally going to be removed. And these committees are already working and they are going to ensure that these premises are eventually going to be removed from under the lines.

    “But the first thing now is that all those people that build under the line we are disconnecting them, and we are getting the results from the DisCos telling us which areas they have complied. People are happy because they did not know the danger involved in them staying under the line.

    “But beyond that we are actually ensuring that it goes further. It is nationwide and the exercise is going on simultaneously within the country because we have the under the 11 DisCos spread across the country.”

    He also told the reporters that the rate of electrocution in the country has been on decrease because of the awareness that the agency has created and its technical enforcement in the industry.

    The decline in mortality from electrocution is still not noticeable because people are still counting previous casualties, he said.

    On meter, he said that the agency has three meter test stations in Kaduna, Oshodi and Port Harcourt that are presently being remodeled to catch up with modern technology.

    Ewesor noted that in order to cope with the influx of meters that would flood the industry as a result of the Meter Asset Provider regulation of the Federal Government, “we are already creating a meter testing station in Enugu, which is going to be completed by the end of this year. And we expect that first quarter of next year it will kick into operation. And we are equally starting the one in Kano to ensure we capture all the meters coming into the country.”

    He explained that the agency carries three types of test on the meters to ensure they are the right type, quality and that their accuracy are correct.

    Asked whether he would advise customers to buy the local or imported meters, the Chief Executive Officer, said the former should be preferable because of the easy access to their manufacturers and spare parts.

    Ewesor, who said that wooden electricity poles are no longer well treated, also noted that the concrete types are preferable.

  • NEMSA to get service scheme

    The Nigeria Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA) Managing Director, Peter Ewesor has promised to introduce a service scheme for the agency.

    According to him, in order to also strengthen manpower capacity in the agency, the NEMSA condition of service is almost ready for approval.

    He stated this yesterday while addressing executive members of the Nigerian Institution of Power Engineers (NIPE) who paid a courtesy visit to the agency in Abuja.

    Ewesor, who is also the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, said there is the propensity to forget all the undergraduate trainings after several years of unemployment or lack of practice.

    He said  he would need a tripartite arrangement with the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), NEMSA and NIPE to brainstorm on how to brush up the holders of NEMSA certificates.

    He recalled that around 1998, “you can no longer go above level 10 unless you are a certified engineer.”

    Ewesor insisted that “And I think it is something we can equally do to see how best we can encourage our people. In fact, we will do our scheme of service. In fact that is the next thing we are going to do.

    “It is one of the legacies I must leave behind. Our condition of service is almost ready for approval. The scheme of service will be the next and after you have them we would have been fully established.”

    The NIPE National Chairman, Engr. Abraham Israel had sought that the association collaborates with the agency to weed out incompetents and ignorant practitioners from the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

    He told the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation that his discovery of the dearth of capacity in the power sector at the interview of applicants for NEMSA certification was worrisome.

    According to him, the industry has capacity issue to tackle.

    Israel submitted that for the applicants “there must be some orientation at least a day. The interview must be for three days. For the first day you must go through some little orientation or class work where the entire industry document will be read to you.  You need to know the act. Most of them don’t know what NESI looks like.”

     

     

  • NEMSA boss advises Nigerians to conserve energy

    NEMSA boss advises Nigerians to conserve energy

    Mr Peter Ewesor, Managing Director, Nigerian Electricity Service Agency ( NEMSA ), has advised Nigerians to learn how to conserve energy in their homes to minimise their electricity bills.

    Ewesor, the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, gave this advice on Tuesday in an interview in Lagos.

    He said some electricity consumers who blamed their meters when they overused electricity should stop doing that.

    According to him, meters being installed by Distribution Companies (DISCOs) passed accuracy and compatibility tests administered by NEMSA before installation.

    The managing director said that the agency had facilities to carry out required tests to declare that a meter was fit and proper for use in Nigeria.

    “When there are complains of meter overrunning by consumers, the agency sends its officials out to verify such complaints.

    “After installation, we deploy our men to go out there and check if the installations are properly done. When it is wrongly connected, the meters will read wrongly.

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    “We do follow up check to make sure that meters installed in the country are certified,” he said

    Ewesor said some consumers who had been on five hours electricity supply before now,have had their supply increased to 10 to 18 hours daily due to increase in power generation.

    “Since power supply has increased, consumers have to pay more for the supply.

    “Maybe a consumer who was paying N3,000 monthly before now, has to triple the payment.

    “But Nigeria consumers will still want to pay the same amount he used to pay when the power generation was low; this is wrong calculation.

    “This is why every consumer has to do energy management or conservation in his house when electricity supply has improved so that he or she can pay less,” he said.

    He said the test stations in NEMSA in Lagos, Kaduna and Port Harcourt ensured that meters deployed to homes and companies by DISCOs met requirements.

    The managing director said however that any installer found wanting in the discharge of his duty would forfeit his certificate.

    NAN

  • NEMSA rolls out N35m power installation testing equipment

    TO limit occurrences of electrical accidents, the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA)  yesterday  inaugurated N35million power testing equipment.

    The  Managing Director,  Peter Ewesor said the equipment would be distributed across the 18 field offices to enhance field inspection of all electrical installations before they are certified for safe use.

    Ewesor, who is also the Chief Electrical Officer of the Federation, said  the  “essence is to improve safety and limit occurrences of electrical accidents. The equipment will help to test transformers to ensure the right capacities are delivered by the contractors.”

    He said the equipment cost over N35 million and that it is working to procure more of them as the agency expands operation.

    The equipment includes power generators for field testing, cable height meter, pressure test equipment, and earthing level testing tool.

    NEMSA noted that the major causes of electrical accidents have been traced to electricity leakage resulting from poor earthing of wiring.

    The agency also announced plans to revive good practices that existed during the days of the defunct PHCN such as using Installation Inspectors to check news buildings before they are commissioned to reduce cases of electrical accidents.

    “We are working to bring that practice back in the power sector to improve safety practices,”  Ewesor, an engineer said.

    The Manager, who is in charger of Technical Standard and Inspectorate Services,  Momoh Usman Omozuafo, said the equipment were meant to facilitate power supply and enhance the workers’ safety.

    Among the equipment was cable height meter, which he said “tells us the distance of our overhead conductor to the ground.”

    There was also high pressure test equipment, tools boxes, and power generator sets with which the of technical officers could provide power while working in remote areas.

  • Electricity: NEMSA backs AEDC’s cleanup of shanty networks

    Electricity: NEMSA backs AEDC’s cleanup of shanty networks

    The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has thrown its weight behind Abuja Electricity Distribution Company’s (AEDC’s) ongoing cleanup of the inherited substandard shanty networks in its franchise area, saying that the exercise was not only commendable but also necessary to prevent electrical accidents that could lead to loss of lives and properties.

    AEDC had two weeks ago commenced a phased cleanup of poorly wired communities in line with its commitment to creating an accident-free electricity services atmosphere in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger states. The pilot of the network cleanup, which commenced in Gishiri Village of Abuja, started with the removal and replacement of substandard electrical poles with standard concrete ones.

    Leading a team of inspectors to a meeting at the AEDC head office, the Managing Director/CEO of NEMSA, Engr. Peter Ewesor disclosed that his agency was not only satisfied with the company’s network sanitization in Gishiri, but that it was also committed to collaborating with the AEDC in the cleanup of other poorly wired communities such as Tudun Wada and Dape.

    According to him, “Abuja (DisCo) is trying in the area of efforts to put its network in proper shape. We also appreciate AEDC for the support and cooperation that it has been giving our men (inspectors) out in the field. We commend you for that. However, you need to do more to sanitize other bad networks in your coverage area, and NEMSA will be there to give you all the support required.

    “Whichever community you’re moving to next, please convene a meeting with people from that area and NEMSA will lead the way to explain to the communities why it is necessary for us to do these cleanups because lives must be protected.”

    The nation’s Chief Electrical Inspector also commended AEDC for the training it has been giving to its staff, but added however, that “we want to encourage you (AEDC) to organize more training for your staff because by building their professional capacities you are also saving your company huge sums of money that could be lost if any accident occurs.”

    Engr. Ewesor also advised the AEDC to do more in terms of advocacy, saying that “we’re also aware that your company is doing a lot to sensitize members of the public on safety issues but we want to encourage you to do even more in this area.”

    He disclosed that the meeting with the AEDC management was a prelude to an inspection that members of the NEMSA team will be carrying out on the company’s feeders to further confirm the integrity of the power distribution facilities.

    In his remarks, the AEDC Managing Director/CEO, Engr. Ernest Mupwaya congratulated Engr. Ewesor on his recent reappointment as CEO of NEMSA, and assured him that AEDC takes health, safety and environmental issues seriously in conducting its business even as he reiterated his company’s commitment to collaborating with the electricity services management agency.

    “We are confident that by working hand-in-hand with NEMSA, we will not only be improving that quality of services we deliver to our customers, we will also be protecting our facilities and saving enormous resources that could be lost if there are unfortunate incidents”, the AEDC boss stated.

    Engr. Mupwaya also assured the NEMSA management of AEDC’s readiness to work with the agency in order to accelerate its public sensitization programmes on health and safety issues.

  • NEMSA certifies 63,942 meters

    The Managing Director, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA),  Peter Ewesor, has said the agency tested 64,222 meters  of which 63,942 passed and 280 failed.

    He spoke in Abuja during  a news conference on the agency’s focus  owing to his reappointment.

    He said NEMSA monitored and evaluated 2,699 existing networks and power systems, of which 618 were resolved and 2,081 are outstanding.

    The Managing Director noted that the agency inspected and tested 5,037 new power projects/electrical installations along power supply chain and utilization,  of which 4,138 were certified for use while 899 awaiting rectification of observed defects.

    The NEMSA boss said  the agency investigated 94 electrical accidents/ electrocutions.

    According to him, the agency has commenced investigations into the cause of the fire outbreak in the Asokoro house of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

    Asked whether he was aware of the fire, he urged former Acting MD,  T.T. Aliyu to respond.

    Aliyu said that “we got the report on (Monday) and we have acted on it and commenced its investigation.”

    Ewesor added that “it is something we are working on.” He stressed that only a preliminary report can be ready at the moment, although the agency prefers concluding thorough investigation before issuing its report.

    He announced that the agency has secured a conviction of four accused persons at the chief magistrate court of Kaduna State for the Offences of criminal conspiracy, forgery of the NEMSA certificates and cheating.

    He said that the Offences are contrary to Section 59, 345, 308 of the penal code of Kaduna State.

    The Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation however vowed that the agency would “intensify its efforts in terms 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 power supply and guarantee safety of lives and property in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI ) and other allied industries/workplaces safety standards.”

    According to him, the agency is determined to empower its staff to discharge their responsibilities by ensuring a conducive environment for work, scale up on necessary work equipment and investing in human capital development.

    He added “importantly too, we are already expanding our services, getting closer to people by inaugurating new inspectorate field offices, such as the new Owerri Office, Bauchi and one coming up in Uyo.”

  • Buhari appoints Governing Board for FERMA

    Buhari appoints Governing Board for FERMA

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday approved the appointments of the Governing Board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

    A statement issued by the Assistant Director (Press) in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mohammed Nakorji, said Mr. Tunde Lemo is the Chairman of the Board.

    The Board members are – Nurudeen Abdurrahaman Rafindadi, Buba Silas Abdullahi, Babagana Mohammad Aji, Shehu Udman Abdullahi and Loretta Ngozichukwu Aniagolu.

    Others are – Mujaidu Stanley Dako, Vincent Oladapo Kolawole, Chukwunwike O. Uzo, Olubunmi Siyanbola, Abdulrazak Ma’aji, Saidu Abdulkadir and Peter Osawe.

    The appointments are subject to the confirmation of the Senate.

    The President also approved the re-appointment of Engr. Peter O. Ewesor, as the Managing Director of Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA) for a final term of four years in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(3) of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency Act, 2015.

    Ewezor’s re-appointment took effect from October 3.

  • NEMSA certifies 25,000 electricity meters

    The Managing Director, Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA),  Peter Ewesor has said the agency has so far inspected 25,000 and certified electricity meters.

    According to him, WINDROCK/USAID have promised to assist the agency in terms of meter testing.

    He said the testing of meters for accuracy has always been of benefit to the electricity consumers, who only pays for what he consumes and the distribution companies (DisCo) which are sure of collecting the right revenue.

    He noted that uncertified electrical contractors no longer undertake installations in any of the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

    The agency had on July 26 commenced a nationwide certification of electrical contractors but speaking with The Nation in Abuja, he said following the awareness campaign that the agency embarked upon since the flag-off, people know that they are now barred from carrying out electrical installation without NEMSA’s certification.

  • NEMSA: Uncertified electrical contractors risk imprisonment

    The Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA) has warned electrical installation contractors without certification from the agency to get it or risk prosecution.

    It said the penalty for not acquiring the certificate is a three-year imprisonment or a fine of N500,000.

    The agency’s Chief Executive Officer, also the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Peter Ewesor, gave the warning during the inauguration of the Abuja Zonal Electrical Installation Contractors Certification Panel in Abuja.

    He said in addition to the imprisonment and fine, the holders of the certificates had sanctions,  which ranged from suspension of licence, a repeat of the installation if it had not caused havoc, and permanent withdrawal of the certificate if the installation led to an accident that caused loss of life.

    The panel has major stakeholders from the sector,  including the Zonal/Area Inspecting Engineer (NEMSA) as chairman.

    Others are from Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Electrical Engineer from Federal Ministry of Works, A representative of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Licensed Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria (LECAN), a representative of DisCos, Electrical Engineer in the Zonal Office as secretary, and a representative of Certification Unit (HQ).

    According to Ewesor, the agency under the Certification of Electrical Contractors in Nigeria on July 26 certified 6,500 contractors while there has been a high rush to the agency for re-certification.

    He said: “The reason we are doing this is that we have noticed that with the certification kicked off, the rush for recertification has been very high, and we have to start this inauguration for people who feel they have to be certified to be certified so that some people cannot be disenfranchised from the exercise.”

    The CEO noted that the goal of NEMSA is to weed out quacks to ensure the delivery of uninterrupted power supply to Nigerians, ensuring safety of lives and property.

    “Many lapses have been identified in the power sector and other places where electricity is used in the area of electrical installation, which have resulted to the unstable network and fire incidences over the years. These lapses include design and construction failure, improper planning and execution of electrical projects, use of substandard materials and equipment, deliberate oversight of procedures, code and requirements for executing electricity projects as specified by regulations and standard code of practice, lack of adherence to standard construction and installation and inadequate safety provisions during constrain and subsequent utilisation of the network,” he said.

    He said there are 16 zonal panels across the country, with the inauguration taking off from Abuja because of its proximity to the head office.

    On the composition of the panel of experts from different specialised organisations related to electricity, he noted that that Ministry of Labour was represented in the panel in order to address the issue of safety.

    The CEO said the agency was not certifying contractors for the fun of it, but for owing to the fact  that they  should be able to interpret the regulations, code of practice and also know the consequences of absence of earthing in a house.