Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) have agreed to strengthen collaboration on electrical safety, technical standards and regulatory compliance as part of efforts to support Nigeria’s evolving electricity market.
The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LASERC, Temitope George, to the NEMSA headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEMSA, Engr. Olusegun Adesayo, said closer collaboration between the two agencies had become increasingly important following the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023 and the growing role of state electricity regulators.
According to Adesayo, the partnership will focus on strengthening electrical safety enforcement, technical inspections, compliance monitoring, metering standards, capacity building and consumer protection.
He said the collaboration would improve compliance with technical regulations, enhance investor and consumer confidence, and contribute to a safer and more reliable electricity supply.
He also reaffirmed NEMSA’s statutory responsibility for enforcing technical standards and regulations relating to electrical installations, electricity meters and other electrical equipment to safeguard lives, property and critical national infrastructure.
LASERC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Temitope George, said strategic partnerships are essential to building a commercially viable and sustainable electricity market in Lagos State.
She noted that the Lagos State Electricity Law 2024 established the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Lagos Independent System Operator and the Lagos State Electrification Agency to drive electricity sector reforms in the state.
George acknowledged NEMSA’s role under the Electricity Act 2023 as the national authority responsible for enforcing technical standards and safety regulations.
She also highlighted Lagos’ strategic importance to Nigeria’s economy, noting that despite contributing about 30 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, the state continues to experience significant electricity supply challenges.
She proposed the establishment of a LASERC–NEMSA Technical Safety Partnership to harmonise technical standards, develop joint inspection protocols, strengthen mini-grid safety compliance, improve consumer protection and promote public awareness on electrical safety.
The proposal also includes joint public education campaigns in English, Yoruba and Pidgin, as well as capacity-building programmes for electrical artisans to improve professionalism and compliance with safety standards.
Both organisations expressed confidence that the partnership would strengthen federal-state collaboration in implementing electricity sector reforms while improving electrical safety, consumer confidence and the efficiency of Nigeria’s electricity market.