by
In a bid to end the regime of importation of substandard electrical equipments to Nigeria, the Honourable Minister of State, Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, OFR, has asked the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) to urgently set up Testing/Certification laboratories in all border ports in the country.
The Minister stated this on Tuesday when he paid a working visit to the corporate headquarters of the agency located at Dar Es Salam Street, Wuse, Abuja.
Jedy-Agba who commended the infant agency for the achievements since its establishment about eight years ago, however said that it can do more to bring the needed sanity to the technical aspect of the electricity sector.
He said that as an agency that’s saddled with the responsibility of enforcing technical standards and regulations, inspections and certification of all categories of electrical installations in Nigeria, it’s important to ensure that before any electrical equipment is put to use, it should be tested and certified.
According to him, “I’m very impressed with this agency because it’s the heartbeat of the nation’s electricity sector. It’s doing well but it can and should do better. I want you to work harder, corporate with each other and come up with better results”.
While charging the agency to improve on its revenue generation, the Minister avered that “NEMSA is supposed to be one of the richest agencies under the Ministry of Power. Look at the act establishing the agency to see the laxity you have to generate funds. Nobody will give you money to acquire your own headquarters, generate funds for it”.
On staff welfare, he directed the Managing Director to “find solution to the issue of Staff welfare. You need to motivate your staff to get their best. You need money to make more money. The job of NEMSA is mostly in the field not offices but those in the field need to be sure of their welfare.
I want to charge you today to ensure that no electrical equipment is used for any installation in Nigeria without the ceal of approval by NEMSA. Apply to get a stand in all ports; Sea, dry and airports to test and certify all electrical equipments imported into Nigeria. Ensure same is done to facilities produce locally”.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Managing Director/Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Engr. Tukur Aliyu, thanked the Minister for his guidance which has culminated in the achievements the agency has recorded in since his appointment to supervise the agency.
Aliyu, however stated that despite the challenges of poor funding and inadequate manpower, the agency has spread so far to nineteen states with Inspectorate Field Offices, four National Meter Testing stations while the new two under construction in Benin and Kano are near competition.
He also noted that the Electricity Meter Museum built by the agency at the premises of the National Meter Test Stations in Oshodi and Kaduna were completed and ready for commissioning.
The MD added that “as a result of the magnitude and importance of the work carried out by NEMSA, more staff are needed. The work of inspection and certification in NEMSA cut across all the states of the federation. However, the number of engineers WWE have on ground cannot effectively perform this work”.
