Decades of substandard electrical equipment/materials being used in the NESI, combined with vandalism, substandard construction practices, and poor maintenance of power installations across the value chain of generation, transmission and distribution, including utilisation, have plagued the development of the power sector in Nigeria. This is largely due to lack of effective enforcement of technical standards, testing and certification of electrical installations in the NESI, This necessitated the Federal Government establishing an independent, professional and technical agency NEMSA to deal with these technical lapses in the industry.

Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) was set up by NEMSA Act No.6 of 2015 to carry out the Functions of Enforcement of Technical Standards and Regulations, Technical Inspection, Testing and Certification of All Categories of Electrical Installations, Electricity Meters and Instruments to ensure the Efficient Production and Delivery of Safe, Reliable and Sustainable Electricity Power Supply and Guarantee safety of Lives and Property in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry; and for Related Matters.