Wisdom Engraced
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The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has announced that samples of the 3.2 million meters under the World Bank Distribution Sector Reform Program (DISREP) are currently undergoing testing and certification in its laboratory. According to NEMSA Managing Director, Engr Tukur Tahir Aliyu, “All these meters that are coming in, we will ensure they are tested and certified before they are allowed to be deployed.”
Aliyu stated that the agency is committed to ensuring that no meter in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) bypasses the testing and certification process. “Those ones that are coming under the World Bank program, we are already in the process of certifying them. Those that are coming are in our labs now. They will be tested and certified in the country. It will not be possible for them to deploy uncertified meters,” he emphasized.
The DISREP aims to supply 3.2 million meters, with 1.2 million meters expected in phase one by December 2024 and 1.3 million in the first quarter of 2025. Additionally, the Presidential Metering Initiative is targeted at supplying seven million meters in different phases.
NEMSA has also been conducting monthly safety performance rankings of utility companies, with audits revealing that many companies are not adhering to approved safety procedures. Aliyu noted, “We do carry out safety performance audits of these utility companies to ensure that they are operating safely in terms of maintenance, operations of the networks, expansion of the networks, and so on and so forth.”
The agency has audited about eight utility companies, with findings indicating a lack of training for personnel on safety procedures. Aliyu stated, “Some of the observations from the ones we have done so far…the training of their personnel on these procedures, on these safety requirements, has been lacking.”
NEMSA’s Managing Director also highlighted cash paucity as a major challenge in the industry, hindering utility companies from rehabilitating ageing equipment and affecting the electricity networks. He expressed hope that resolving the cash issue would lead to increased investment in network rehabilitation and replacement of ageing electrical materials and equipment.
Other challenges facing NEMSA include inadequate funding, lack of permanent office accommodation, and insufficient personnel. Aliyu emphasized, “Another major challenge is inadequate funding…Lack of that funding will lead us not to have the adequate state of the art test equipment that we use in our various statutory activities.”
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