The Honourable Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, OFR, FCA, FCIB, has charged the newly inaugurated Governing Board of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) to intensify enforcement of technical standards and regulations across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, the Minister congratulated the Board members on their appointments, describing their role as a critical national responsibility central to the safety, integrity, and reliability of the power sector.
He reaffirmed NEMSA’s statutory mandate as the apex body responsible for enforcing technical standards across the entire electricity value chain of generation, transmission, distribution, and end user installations. According to him, the Agency’s core functions of enforcement of technical standards and regulations, inspection, testing, and certification of electrical installations, as well as ensuring the quality of materials and equipment, remain fundamental to building a safe, reliable, and investment friendly power sector.
The Minister noted that persistent challenges within the sector including electrical accidents, substandard electrical materials, system losses, frequent equipment failures, and network inefficiencies are largely attributable to weak compliance with established standards.
He therefore urged the Agency to strengthen its enforcement role. “NEMSA must position itself not only as a regulator but as a firm enforcer, ensuring that every component of the nation’s power infrastructure meets the highest standards of safety and quality,” he stated.
Addressing the Board, the Minister outlined key expectations, including the provision of strategic direction and oversight to ensure the Agency operates with professionalism, transparency, and accountability. He also emphasized the need to curb the proliferation of substandard electrical materials in the market and to position NEMSA to effectively respond to emerging developments such as off-grid and renewable energy systems.
Responding on behalf of the Board, Chief Mrs. Ikechi Nwosu expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in the members and acknowledged NEMSA’s critical role in the power sector. She pledged the Board’s commitment to effective service delivery and collaboration with stakeholders.
Mrs. Nwosu further called for sustained support from the Ministry of Power, particularly in the areas of capacity building and staff development. She stressed the importance of exposing both technical and administrative personnel of the Agency to local and international training to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen NEMSA’s ability to deliver on its mandate.
Signed
Ama Umoren Mrs.
Head Public Affairs
NEMSA