The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) have unveiled a coordinated strategy aimed at closing metering gaps, strengthening industry compliance, and improving safety and technical standards in Nigeria’s power sector.
The initiative, announced during a strategic meeting between both agencies, features the establishment of a Joint Technical Team to lead reforms in metering systems, inspectorate services, renewable energy integration, and overall grid support infrastructure.
As part of the framework, the agencies agreed to adopt more efficient enforcement mechanisms, including the application of administrative sanctions to bypass lengthy legal processes that slow regulatory compliance.
NEMSA and NISO also committed to improved data sharing and collaboration with key institutions such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigeria Customs Service, in a bid to curb the importation of substandard electrical materials.
According to a statement from NEMSA’s media unit on Sunday, NISO’s Managing Director, Engr. Abdu Mohammed, praised NEMSA’s efforts in upholding safety and technical benchmarks in the sector. He emphasized the urgent need to reduce the country’s high Technical Loss Factor (TLF), largely driven by defective and poorly calibrated meters.
Mohammed urged NEMSA to tighten its meter certification processes, noting that inaccuracies in metering directly hamper the operational efficiency of the entire electricity value chain. He also stressed that no new substation or transmission infrastructure from TSPs, GENCOs, or DISCOs should be commissioned without NEMSA’s thorough certification.
On his part, NEMSA’s MD/CEO, Engr. Aliyu Tukur Tahir, reiterated the agency’s resolve to uphold technical standards and safety through robust enforcement. He highlighted challenges such as grid instability linked to unregulated use of 33kV feeders, regulatory delays, and non-compliance by some distribution companies.
Tahir further revealed that NEMSA is developing new protocols for the safe integration of mini-grids and energy storage systems into the national grid, aligning with Nigeria’s renewable energy goals.
He also advocated for a review of the Electricity Act to expand NEMSA’s legal authority and enhance its ability to swiftly address emerging challenges in the power sector.
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