By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) have agreed to deepen collaboration on electrical safety, technical standards enforcement, and regulatory compliance in a move aimed at supporting Nigeria’s evolving electricity sector and improving power infrastructure nationwide.
The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LASERC, Mrs. Temitope George, to the Corporate Headquarters of NEMSA in Abuja, where she was received by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEMSA and Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Engr. Olusegun M. Adesayo, FNSE.
Welcoming the LASERC delegation, Engr. Adesayo described the visit as timely, noting that Nigeria’s electricity industry is undergoing significant transformation following the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023, which has expanded the responsibilities of state electricity regulators.
He said the engagement would strengthen institutional collaboration between both organisations through the exchange of technical expertise and the development of practical frameworks for electrical safety enforcement, technical inspections, compliance monitoring, metering standards, capacity building, and consumer protection.
According to the NEMSA boss, closer cooperation between the two agencies will improve compliance with technical regulations, increase investor and consumer confidence, and support the delivery of a safer, more reliable, and sustainable electricity supply across the country.
Engr. Adesayo commended LASERC for the progress it has made in establishing a robust regulatory framework for the Lagos electricity market, while reaffirming NEMSA’s statutory responsibility for enforcing technical standards relating to electrical installations, electricity meters, and other electrical equipment to safeguard lives, property, and critical national infrastructure.
He stressed that achieving a safe, efficient, and resilient electricity sector requires sustained collaboration among regulators, electricity operators, licensees, and other stakeholders.
Speaking during the meeting, LASERC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Temitope George, emphasised that strategic partnerships remain essential to building a commercially viable and sustainable electricity market in Lagos State.
She said the Lagos State Electricity Law 2024, signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, marked a major milestone in the state’s power sector reform by establishing LASERC, the Lagos Independent System Operator (LISO), and the Lagos State Electrification Agency to drive a competitive and reliable electricity market.
Mrs. George acknowledged NEMSA’s pivotal role under the Electricity Act 2023 as the nation’s designated authority for enforcing technical standards and ensuring compliance in electrical installations, metering systems, and safety regulations.
Describing Lagos as a critical hub for electricity sector reforms, she noted that although the state contributes nearly 30 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and has a population exceeding 20 million, it continues to experience significant electricity supply challenges.
To address these issues, she proposed the establishment of a LASERC–NEMSA Technical Safety Partnership, anchored on the Electricity Act 2023 and the Lagos State Electricity Law 2024.
She explained that the partnership would harmonise technical standards, develop joint inspection protocols, create a shared database of certified electrical contractors, strengthen mini-grid safety compliance, enhance consumer protection, promote public electrical safety awareness, and improve professionalism among electrical artisans.
Mrs. George also advocated for joint public enlightenment campaigns in English, Yoruba, and Pidgin to educate consumers on electrical safety, overload prevention, safe installation practices, and the dangers of electricity theft and meter tampering. She further called for collaborative capacity-building programmes to improve technical competence, ethical standards, and compliance with safety regulations among electrical artisans.
Both organisations expressed confidence that the proposed partnership would become a model for effective federal-state collaboration in implementing Nigeria’s electricity sector reforms, while promoting safer electrical infrastructure, a more skilled workforce, stronger consumer confidence, and a more efficient electricity market across the country.
