By Paul Effiong, Abuja
To prevent all forms of emergency, House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations has warned stakeholders in the electricity sector to always adhere to safety standards and regulations.
Chairman of the committee, Sulaiman Gumi, who gave the warning, said safety in the sector must not be compromised.
The chairman gave the advice during a briefing at Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry’s Safety Conference in Abuja, yesterday.
The committee disclosed its readiness to collaborate with the Association for Public Policy Analysis among other critical stakeholders working in the power sector to organise the conference.
Members of the committee also listed some of the challenges affecting the electricity sector in the country.
According to the committee, problems such as vandalism, theft, installation of electricity by non-licensed electrical installers, production, marketing and use of sub-standard electrical materials are seriously affecting the sector despite the federal government’s sincere efforts to tackle the problem.
“The committee identified the power sector as an important sector whose safety standards and regulatory policies should be observed for effective legislative actions.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria has made a commitment towards enhancing safety standards and regulations in the electricity sector by ascertaining laws, regulations and established institutions to coordinate, implement and enforce the laws.
“This is with the overall aim of ensuring that electricity service delivery in the country is carried out in a safe, secured and qualitative manner, devoid of loss of lives and properties.
“Moreso, to relieve the occurrences of incidents such as electrical accidents, electrocution, distortion of the functionality of electricity networks and grids, theft and vandalism and so on.
He added that it would strengthen compliance and enforcement strategies for the prevention of vandalism, theft, false declarations etc. through exposition of offences and penalties segment of the Electricity Act 2023.
“The conference aims to build synergy among stakeholders, as well as
enhance the collective approach to deal with the menace of manufacturing, importation, marketing and use of sub-standard electrical materials and quackery in the nation’s power sector.
“It aims to address the challenges of importation of substandard solar systems and materials required for the execution of renewable energy and climate change related projects through articulation of frameworks for Renewable Energy Safety Standards and Regulations Policy.”
