Ondo govt, NEMSA partner on standardisation

The management of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and the Ondo State Government have expressed willingness to collaborate in the areas of technical standardisation, inspection and testing of all electrical equipment and materials within the state.

This was part of the resolutions at a virtual meeting held recently between officials of the Federal Government Agency and the state government.

NEMSA, established by the NEMSA Act of 2015 ( now Electricity Act 2023), is charged with the mandate of the enforcement of Technical Standards and Regulations, Technical Inspection, Testing and Certification of all categories of electrical installations, electricity meters and instruments to ensure an 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 (NESI) and allied industries in the country.

The meeting, held at the instance of NEMSA was chaired by Engr. Aliyu Tukur Tahir, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of NEMSA who also doubles as the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation (CEIF) and   Ondo State government was led by the Special Adviser to the governor on Energy Barrister Olatunji Light.

Welcoming the representatives of the Ondo state government to the meeting, the NEMSA boss said the meeting is aimed at fostering mutual cooperation between his Agency and the Ondo State, adding that the purpose was to ensure standardization, safety of lives and property in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

Barrister Light, in his remarks, said the collaboration would lead to a strong collaborative effort in ensuring safety of lives and property in the state.

He added that the state government was already collaborating with other Federal Government agencies in the same regard saying the government under the leadership of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is embarking on a number of projects  that would need collaboration with NEMSA.

He expressed willingness of the Ondo State Electricity Regulatory  Bureau (OSERB) to work with NEMSA harmoniously to ensure standardization, inspection, testing of electrical installations within Ondo State while he  emphasized the need for MOU to guide collaboration which can serve as the template for other state governments to emulate.

While the meeting concluded that a team would be set up with membership drawn from NEMSA and the Ondo State government and is expected come up with suggestions on the possible areas of collaboration, the NEMSA boss expressed hope that the planned collaboration will enhance smooth operation in the power sector.