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NEMSA inspects electrical networks, identifies substandard materials in Abuja

The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), on Wednesday, said it has so far inspected over 10,876 electrical networks.

This was even as it identified 68,168 substandard materials which have been certified unfit for use.

The Managing Director and Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Aliyu Tukur Tahir, made the disclosure at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja.

According to him, these achievements and more are part of its mandate which is to ensure enforcement of technical standards and regulations, technical inspection, testing and certification of all categories of electrical installations, electricity meters and instruments, to ensure efficient production and delivery of safe, reliable and sustainable electric power supply.

While noting the achievements made in 2022, he stressed that the efforts made are targeted at sustaining stability in the existing electricity networks and stemming the use of substandard materials, cables and equipment in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

Apart from these, he added that the agency conducted monitoring and evaluation of 10,598 existing networks while 771 issues out of these were resolved.

Also, he said 3,480 factories, public places and hotels were inspected while 2,576,607 electricity meters were tested.

Further, NEMSA Managing Director said the agency had undertaken the Nigerian National Accreditation System (NINAS) ISO/IEC 17024 certification process for the RSC Unit;
inaugurated taskforce for monitoring/evaluation of existing networks to stem the use of substandard electrical materials and equipment.

Apart from these, he said the agency has certified 36 electricity meters and instruments manufacturing assembling companies in Nigeria and recertified QMS ISO 9001:2015 to ensure all certifications of NEMSA are of international standards.

Going forward, Tahir assured that given adequate funding and support from NESI stakeholders, the agency will continue to build on the successes earlier recorded.

According to him, “The National Monitoring of existing networks and equipment in the country; to which a task force was set up by NEMSA last year to drive the process will continue.

“Already four distribution companies namely Abuja, Ibadan, Ikeja and Eko were monitored by the Taskforce. This year, the monitoring exercise will continue to cover the six other distribution companies namely; Port Harcourt, Kano, Kaduna, Yola, Jos, Benin and Enugu.

“In furtherance of this, we are embarking on the certification of electrical materials/equipment used in the Power sector. We are at the moment carrying out inspection and testing of electrical equipment of major importers/distributors of electrical equipment in the country. This is to ensure that the specification of the equipment imported into the country is in line with technical standards and extant regulations.

“We are also strengthening NEMSA’s facilities nationwide for increased revenue earnings. Such facilities include the Central stores in Oshodi, Lagos, Kaduna and Port Harcourt which are expected to generate funds this year into the NEMSA’s coffers,” he stated.

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