ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) have unveiled a collaborative action plan aimed at strengthening safety standards, enhancing metering accuracy, and ensuring regulatory compliance in Nigeria’s power sector.
As part of the initiative, both agencies have set up a Joint Technical Team comprising experts from each organisation.
The team will address key areas including metering infrastructure, electrical inspectorate services, renewable energy integration, financial frameworks, and logistical coordination.
A major priority under the new plan is the immediate recertification and standardisation of grid-connected metering systems across the country.
According to both agencies, this step is crucial for improving energy accountability, transparency, and the overall reliability of power supply.
“In a significant step, a Joint Technical Team, comprising representatives from both sides, was constituted. The team will focus on key areas including metering, standards, inspectorate services, renewables, financial and logistics frameworks. Their immediate priority will be the recertification and standardisation of grid metering systems nationwide,” said Ama Umoren, Head of Communications and Protocol at NEMSA, in a statement issued on Sunday.
The agencies believe the new approach will facilitate real-time monitoring of the national grid, reduce energy losses, and boost trust among industry operators and consumers.
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In his remarks, NISO Managing Director, Abdu Mohammed, reaffirmed NEMSA’s critical mandate of enforcing technical regulations and conducting rigorous testing and certification of electrical installations and equipment across the power value chain.
He also pointed to the country’s high Technical Loss Factor, largely driven by faulty or inaccurate metering systems, as a key concern.
Mohammed called for the transparent and accurate certification of meters, urging NEMSA to ensure that all new substations and transmission lines whether operated by Transmission Service Providers, Generation Companies, or Distribution Companies are properly tested and certified prior to commissioning.
Responding, the Managing Director/CEO of NEMSA, Aliyu Tahir, restated the agency’s commitment to enforcing safety protocols and technical standards in accordance with its statutory responsibilities.
Tahir outlined several sector-wide challenges, including grid instability caused by the unregulated use of 33kV feeders, delayed enforcement processes, and persistent noncompliance among some electricity distribution companies.
To tackle these issues, both agencies agreed to streamline enforcement by introducing administrative sanctions as an alternative to protracted legal action.
They also pledged to strengthen data sharing and partner with institutions such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Nigerian Customs Service to curb the influx of substandard electrical products.
Looking to the future, Tahir disclosed that NEMSA is developing new protocols to facilitate the safe integration of mini-grids and energy storage systems into the national grid, aligning with Nigeria’s broader renewable energy agenda.
The NEMSA chief further reiterated the agency’s support for amending the Electricity Act to enhance its enforcement authority.
Through the new partnership, NEMSA and NISO aim to deliver safer, more reliable, and fully compliant electricity infrastructure to Nigerians, Tahir said.