The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has stepped up nationwide inspections, testing, and certification of electrical installations to improve safety and reliability across the country. The move is part of its renewed enforcement efforts under the Electricity Act 2023.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, the agency’s Head of Communications and Protocol, Ama Umoren, said recent inspections revealed 31 major safety defects at the Afikpo 33kV feeder and Nibo Injection Substation operated by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in Ebonyi State.
According to the report, inspectors discovered several hazards, including broken cross-arms, undersized conductors, right-of-way violations, overgrown vegetation, and aging power lines dangerously positioned over residential areas and businesses.
NEMSA has given EEDC a four-week deadline to correct all identified faults to prevent possible electrical accidents that could result in loss of life or property.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency has intensified its nationwide monitoring, testing, and inspection of electrical installations to ensure the safety, stability, and reliability of power networks across the country. The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company has been directed to urgently fix all detected defects to avert potential hazards.”
Under the Electricity Act 2023, NEMSA is responsible for enforcing safety standards in the design, construction, and maintenance of all electrical power systems and installations in Nigeria.
In a separate operation, NEMSA engineers inspected and tested transformers in Kebbi, Zamfara, and Sokoto States to ensure they met technical standards before being commissioned. These included a 500kVA community transformer in Birnin Kebbi, a 300kVA relief substation in Gusau, and another in Arkila, Sokoto.
NEMSA explained that these checks are part of a broader plan to reduce transformer failures and power outages linked to substandard materials and poor installation practices.
Speaking on the ongoing efforts, the agency’s Managing Director and Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Aliyu Tahir, said NEMSA is strengthening its 21 field offices nationwide to ensure that all renewable and conventional power projects meet required safety standards before being connected to the national grid.
“No electrical installation is energised until it passes NEMSA’s inspection, testing, and certification process. These checks are in place to protect lives, property, and the stability of our power system,” Tahir said.
He reaffirmed NEMSA’s commitment to supporting President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through stricter enforcement of technical standards, improved monitoring, and closer collaboration with stakeholders to deliver safe, reliable, and sustainable power for Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the National Meter Test Station in Port Harcourt has completed its routine verification and calibration of electricity meter-testing equipment. The exercise, supervised by Koproda Cyriacus, aims to ensure accuracy in metering and fairness in electricity billing.
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“Every certified meter used by distribution companies must meet precision standards — it’s about fairness, safety, and trust,” Cyriacus said.
As Nigeria positions itself for increased investment in renewable energy, Vice President Kashim Shettima announced at the Nigerian Renewable Energy Innovation Forum 2025 that new investments will create over 1,500 direct jobs and accelerate the country’s clean energy transition.
