By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
The management of Nigerian Electricity Management Services (NEMSA) has lamented lack of political will to demolish structures under power lines in the country.
The Managing Director of MEMSA, Engr Aliyu Tukur Tahir, made the disclosure weekend during an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja.
Engr Tahir noted further that lack of political will on the part of government to carry out the exercise was responsible for low space of work in construction of some power line projects in the country.
Meanwhile, the agency said it was set to inspect and certify the 10 mega transformers Siemens under the Siemens deal with the federal government being imported into the country before their installation.
“From inception of this programme, NEMSA has been involved, we are part of the team that reviewed the technical specification of these electrical materials and equipment before they are brought into the country”, he said
He added that, “We are also going to inspect them and certify them before they are finally energised across the country”.
The MEMSA boss revealed further that the agency has so far this year inspected 15,931 electricity projects in the country out of which 10,692 have been certified fit for use.
Accordingly to him, “given the danger posed by electricity and electrical installations to consumers and professionals, the agency would continue to apply stringent measure minimize risk to the public.
“Electricity has become a necessary part of our everyday life and is of great benefit to us.
“However, it is associated with hazards, which if misused/abused, a terrible price is paid in injuries, fatalities, equipment damage, and unscheduled down time; for safe, reliable and sustainable Electricity Supply, it is paramount that the associated hazards are effectively mitigated”.
“Mitigating the hazards of electricity to make it safe, reliable and sustainable, led to the development of Technical Standards, Regulations and Codes; The developed Technical Standards, Regulations and Codes can only be impactful if effectively enforced, thus the establishment of NEMSA”.
Tahir stressed further that the agency has monitored 12,114 existing networks and power systems nationwide which is part of its mandate
He said, “Over 3,255 electrical installations at factories, hazardous installations have been inspected by NEMSA.
“There has been significant increase in the total number of manufacturers of electric concrete poles certified in Nigeria. It has risen from 21 in 2016 to 143 in 2021”.
