The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) says it would work more closely with the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) to tighten enforcement of technical standards, and improve electrical safety, as Nigeria’s power sector adjusts to a new regulatory era.
The pledge came as LASERC’s Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Temitope George, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to NEMSA’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, where she met with the agency’s MD/CEO and Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Engr. Olusegun M. Adesayo.
Welcoming the LASERC delegation, Engr. Adesayo described the visit as timely, particularly as Nigeria’s electricity sector continues to evolve following the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023 and the increasing role of state electricity regulators in driving market development.
He noted that the engagement provides a valuable platform for both organisations to deepen institutional collaboration, share technical expertise, and develop practical frameworks for cooperation in electrical safety enforcement, technical inspections, compliance monitoring, metering standards, capacity building, and consumer protection.
According to the NEMSA MD/CEO, stronger collaboration between the two organizations will improve compliance with technical regulations, boost investor and consumer confidence, and contribute to the delivery of a safer, more reliable, and sustainable electricity supply across Nigeria.
Engr. Adesayo, in a statement on Tuesday by the NEMSA’s Head of Public Affairs, Mrs. Ama Umoren, commended LASERC for the significant progress it has made in establishing a robust regulatory framework for the Lagos State electricity market. He reiterated that NEMSA remains the statutory agency responsible for enforcing technical standards and regulations relating to electrical installations, electricity meters, and other electrical equipment to safeguard lives, property, and critical national infrastructure.
He further stressed that achieving a safe, efficient, and resilient electricity sector requires sustained collaboration among regulators, operators, electricity licensees, and other key stakeholders.
Speaking during the visit, the MD/CEO of LASERC, Mrs. Temitope George, underscored the importance of strategic partnerships in building a commercially viable and sustainable electricity market in Lagos State.
She explained that the Lagos State Electricity Law 2024, signed into law by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represents a major milestone in the state’s electricity reform agenda. According to her, the legislation established LASERC, the Lagos Independent System Operator (LISO), and the Lagos State Electrification Agency to drive the development of a competitive, reliable, and sustainable electricity market.
Mrs. George acknowledged NEMSA’s pivotal role under the Electricity Act 2023 as Nigeria’s designated authority for enforcing technical standards and ensuring compliance in electrical installations, metering systems, and safety regulations.
Describing Lagos as a strategic hub for electricity sector reform, she observed that despite contributing nearly 30 percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and having a population exceeding 20 million people, the state continues to face significant electricity supply challenges.
She proposed the establishment of a LASERC–NEMSA Technical Safety Partnership anchored on the Electricity Act 2023 and the Lagos State Electricity Law 2024. The partnership, she explained, would focus on harmonising technical standards, developing joint inspection protocols, creating shared databases of certified electrical contractors, promoting public electrical safety awareness, strengthening mini-grid safety compliance, enhancing artisan professionalism, and improving consumer protection.
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 proposed collaborative capacity-building programmes for electrical artisans to strengthen professionalism, ethical standards, and compliance with safety regulations.
Both organisations expressed confidence that the proposed partnership would serve as a model for effective federal-state collaboration in the implementation of Nigeria’s electricity sector reforms, while promoting safer electrical infrastructure, a more skilled workforce, enhanced consumer confidence, and a more efficient electricity market nationwide.
