The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency has intensified nationwide inspection, testing, and certification exercises to ensure electrical safety and reliability across the country, in line with its renewed enforcement drive under the Electricity Act 2023.
In a statement by the Head of Communications and Protocol, Ama Umoren, the agency disclosed that its field inspectors recently uncovered 31 critical safety defects in the Afikpo 33kV feeder and Nibo Injection Substation operated by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company in Ebonyi State.
The inspection, led by Osita Obiukwu of the Enugu Inspectorate Office, revealed several safety lapses, including right-of-way violations, vegetation encroachment, broken cross-arms, undersized conductors, and aged 33kV overhead lines running dangerously over homes and businesses.
In response, NEMSA has given EEDC four weeks to correct all identified defects to avert potential electrical hazards that could result in loss of life and property.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency has intensified its nationwide monitoring, testing, and inspection of electrical installations to assure safety, stability, and reliability of power networks across the country.
“In one of such recent field operations, NEMSA officials carried out technical inspections of the Afikpo 33kV feeder as well as the inspection of the Nibo Injection Substation in Ebonyi State, where 31 critical defects were detected and reported for urgent correction. Consequently, the Agency has directed the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company to immediately rectify all identified defects to avert potential hazards that could lead to loss of lives and property.
“Pursuant to the Electricity Act 2023, NEMSA is mandated to enforce compliance with safety requirements for the construction, operation, and maintenance of electrical power plants, transmission systems, distribution networks, and electrical installations, as well as provide comprehensive technical support services that assure the efficient production and delivery of safe and reliable electricity supply.”
In a similar exercise, NEMSA engineers carried out testing and inspection of transformers in Kebbi, Zamfara, and Sokoto States to ensure compliance with technical standards before commissioning.
The inspection, supervised by Armiyau Bello, covered “A 500kVA, 11/0.400kV community transformer at New Layout, Birnin Kebbi; A 300kVA relief substation at Barakallah Area, Gusau, Zamfara State; and A 300kVA relief substation at Arkila Area, Sokoto.”
The inspections, NEMSA noted, are part of a broader plan to reduce transformer failures and power supply interruptions caused by substandard equipment and poor installation practices.
Commenting on the agency’s role in this process, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEMSA and Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Aliyu Tahir, stated that the agency is strengthening its field operations through its 21 Inspectorate Field Offices nationwide to ensure that all renewable and conventional power projects meet approved standards before connection to the national grid.
“No installation is energised until it meets the required extant regulations for testing, inspection, and certification by NEMSA,” Tahir affirmed. “These checks protect people, property, and the reliability of our energy system.”
He reiterated NEMSA’s unwavering commitment to Mr President’s renewed hope agenda by expanding monitoring capacity, enforcing technical standards and regulations, and deepening collaboration with stakeholders to deliver safe, reliable, and sustainable electricity for all Nigerians.
