The management of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and its National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) counterpart, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance electrical safety compliance with regard to electrical incidences in residential, commercial and industrial premises/buildings as well as the building compliance to insurance policy.
A statement by Mrs Ama Umoren of NEMSA’s Communications and Protocol Unit quoted the Agency’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Aliyu Tukur Tahir, during the signing ceremony, as laying emphasis on the importance of the collaboration in mitigating risks associated with electrical accidents and infrastructure failures.
According to the statement, the MoU is centred on a collaborative framework between NEMSA and NAICOM to ensure that as a pre-condition, all electrical installations in residential, commercial, industrial premises, hazardous locations, industries, and factories are duly certified by NEMSA before the Insurance Policy is processed by all Insurance Companies.
The statement added that the partnership aligned with the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the reliability and safety of Nigeria’s electricity sector.
“This partnership with NAICOM is a significant step towards ensuring that all electricity consumers, operators, and investors adhere to the highest safety and risk management standards. By integrating insurance compliance into electrical safety enforcement, we are safeguarding lives, investments, and the overall integrity of the power sector.
“It will also be a requirement by NEMSA that all Facility Applicants of its statutory inspection, testing, and certification, should ensure that their Facilities are insured with Insurance Companies, for safety and mitigation of risk,’’ the NEMSA boss, who is also the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, said.
The Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of NAICOM, Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, in his comments, reaffirmed NAICOM’s commitment to ensuring that all power sector players embrace insurance as a critical risk management tool.
He said, “Insurance plays a crucial role in cushioning the effects of electrical hazards and infrastructure-related incidents.
“Through this MoU, we will work closely with NEMSA to enforce compliance with relevant insurance policies, ensuring that the power sector operates with adequate risk mitigation mechanisms in place.”
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