In a significant move to combat electricity theft and other power-related offences, the Federal Government of Nigeria announced plans on Thursday to establish an electricity offences tribunal.
This initiative aims to ensure the swift prosecution of offenders and uphold the integrity of the nation’s power sector.
During a press briefing in Abuja, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Aliyu Tahir, detailed the government’s strategy.
He emphasized that the tribunal would expedite the resolution of electricity-related cases, thereby enhancing the enforcement capabilities of NEMSA.
“We are working on the establishment of an electricity offences tribunal with an in-built appeal system for faster dispensation of electricity-related offences,” Tahir stated.
“It is to vest NEMSA in-house counsel with powers to prosecute electricity offences.”
The establishment of the tribunal is a proactive measure to address the long-standing issue of electricity theft, which has plagued the Nigerian power sector for years.
Tahir noted that the current process for sanctioning violators under the Electricity Act is cumbersome and slow.
The new tribunal is expected to streamline this process, allowing for quicker enforcement and penalties.
In his address, Tahir also highlighted that the National Assembly had been informed about the initiative.
“The establishment of this tribunal has been brought to the knowledge of the legislature and we’ve made submissions to them.
Our hope is that they will amend the Electricity Act to include a provision for this,” he said.
The proposed tribunal, which includes an appeal system, is designed to ensure fairness and efficiency in handling power-related offences.
This initiative aligns with NEMSA’s broader mandate to enhance the reliability and safety of the Nigerian electricity supply.
In addition to discussing the tribunal, Tahir provided updates on NEMSA’s recent activities, particularly in the area of metering.
He revealed that the agency had tested and calibrated a total of 2,655,488 meters in the power sector, with the majority now deployed for consumer use across the country.
In 2023 alone, 609,585 electricity consumers were metered, yet there remains a significant number of unmetered registered power users, standing at 7,319,846.
According to data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, out of the 13,162,572 registered consumers receiving supplies from the national grid, 5,842,726 have been metered.
NEMSA continues its efforts to ensure the accuracy and reliability of these meters.
“In line with our mandate, we have tested and calibrated over 2.6 million meters,” Tahir stated.
NEMSA’s broader inspection and certification activities were also highlighted. Tahir reported that a total of 21,681 electricity installation projects had been inspected and tested, with 13,154 receiving certification.
Additionally, 16,624 electricity networks and 4,921 factories, hazardous installations, and public places have been inspected, tested, and certified as safe.
These measures are part of NEMSA’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality and safety of Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure.
The establishment of the electricity offences tribunal represents a significant step forward in ensuring that the sector operates efficiently and that offenders are held accountable promptly.
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