NEMSA achieves top performance in 2025 PEBEC ranking, improving safety, compliance, and investor confidence in Nigeria’s power sector

Nigeria’s electricity safety regulator, the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), has emerged as one of the highest-performing federal agencies in the 2025 Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) assessment, strengthening its influence in the power sector reform agenda.

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In the PEBEC ranking, NEMSA secured ninth position nationwide with a performance score of 73.8 per cent.

The evaluation considered service efficiency and transparency, adherence to service level agreements, ease-of-doing-business standards, adoption of digital processes, complaint resolution mechanisms, and engagement with public and private stakeholders.

The high rating reflects NEMSA’s consistent improvements in enforcing technical standards within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), boosting investor and consumer confidence, and enhancing safety outcomes across the sector.

The agency’s reforms have centred on electrical safety, professional competence, certification, training, and strict compliance with regulations.

PEBEC highlighted NEMSA’s statutory responsibilities, including deploying qualified and certified personnel, ensuring proper use of approved equipment, verifying electrical installations and metering, and confirming that contractors meet professional experience and credential requirements.

NEMSA Managing Director Aliyu Tahir said the agency remains committed to developing and sustaining technical standards while prioritising safety and competence across the electricity value chain.

He noted a strategic partnership with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) in June 2025 to strengthen engineering regulation and compliance.

As part of its digital transformation, NEMSA launched the Integrated Technical Inspectorate Services Management Solution in November 2025, automating inspections from application through certification to reduce delays and enhance transparency.

Tahir confirmed that nationwide staff training was personally overseen to ensure readiness.

The agency has also collaborated with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) under the Nigerian Energy Support Programme and partnered with the Rural Electrification Agency to conduct state-level investment and safety roundtables, including a recent engagement in Sokoto State.

Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Engineer Aliyu Tukur Tahir, underscored ongoing challenges such as grid instability from 33kV feeders, slow enforcement procedures, and non-compliance by some distribution companies.

He disclosed that eight distribution companies have already undergone safety compliance audits.

Tukur warned that most sector-related injuries and fatalities are preventable, often caused by non-adherence to approved procedures.

He highlighted updates to outdated safety manuals and stressed that the deployment of non-certified personnel poses serious risks to lives and infrastructure.

Despite its progress, NEMSA continues to face challenges including limited funding, understaffing, and the lack of permanent office accommodation.

Samples from 3.2 million meters procured under the World Bank-supported Distribution Sector Reform Programme are currently undergoing testing and certification.

PEBEC noted that the initiative tracks reforms, rewards high-performing agencies, and identifies institutions needing improvement.

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While NEMSA’s results were impressive, the council emphasised the need for sustained reform across all federal agencies to enhance compliance with ease-of-doing-business provisions under the Business Facilitation Act.