NIGERIA TARGETS ENERGY ACCOUNTABILITY IN NEW NEMSA-NISO PARTNERSHIP

NEMSA and NISO form joint taskforce to enforce grid standards, recertify meters, and curb energy losses in a major push for transparency and efficiency.

Nigeria Power sector Metering infrastructure Safety standard Grid-connected metering systems.
NISO’s Managing Director, Abdu Mohammed and NEMSA’s Managing Director, Aliyu Tahir
NISO’s Managing Director, Abdu Mohammed and NEMSA’s Managing Director, Aliyu Tahir



In a bold move to confront persistent inefficiencies in Nigeria’s power sector, the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) have launched a coordinated initiative aimed at reducing energy losses, enforcing stricter safety standards, and improving the accuracy of metering infrastructure across the country.

At the heart of the collaboration is a newly constituted Joint Technical Team, comprised of experts from both agencies, tasked with driving reforms across critical power infrastructure areas,  from regulatory compliance and electrical inspections to the integration of renewable energy and logistical support.

A major focus of the team’s immediate assignment is the recertification and standardisation of all grid-connected metering systems nationwide, a step both agencies described as key to enhancing energy accountability, transparency, and service delivery.

During the high-level strategy meeting that formalised the partnership, NISO’s Managing Director, Abdu Mohammed, emphasized the urgent need to address the nation’s high Technical Loss Factor, which he blamed on faulty and uncalibrated metering systems. He called on NEMSA to prioritise the accurate certification of meters, warning that no new transmission lines or substations should be commissioned without NEMSA’s approval and testing.

NEMSA’s Managing Director, Aliyu Tahir, echoed this sentiment, reiterating the agency’s commitment to upholding technical standards and safety in power installations. Tahir noted that challenges such as grid instability, non-compliance by distribution companies, and bureaucratic enforcement delays had significantly undermined sector progress.

To fast-track enforcement and bypass legal bottlenecks, the two agencies agreed to introduce administrative sanctions for defaulting stakeholders, enabling swifter compliance and oversight.

Additionally, both agencies pledged to deepen inter-agency cooperation by sharing technical data and partnering with key regulators like the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Nigerian Customs Service to stem the tide of substandard electrical imports into the country.

Looking ahead, NEMSA also revealed plans to establish new safety protocols for integrating mini-grids and energy storage systems into the national grid, a critical step toward achieving Nigeria’s renewable energy targets.

The initiative marks a significant shift in regulatory posture, signaling a more unified and proactive approach to power sector reform in Nigeria.

Comments

You must be logged in to comment.