The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) yesterday insisted on inspecting, testing, and certifying the Electric Vehicles (EV) the Federal Government intends to import into the country.
Managing Director Aliyu Tahir said it is NEMSA’s mandate to certify the EV, stressing that the agency has already written a letter to the Automotive Design and Development Council in this regard.
He added: “The Federal Government plans to run electric vehicles and we are tracking this. We have written to the agency responsible for this, that is Automotive Design and Development Council. I was in contact with the DG yesterday.
“We will visit him and we have already written our areas of collaboration. Definitely, the electric vehicles have to be inspected, tested, and certified by NEMSA. It is our mandate. Electric charging stations also have to be inspected and tested in line with our mandate.”
Tahir, who is the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, said showcasing the charging stations with standards and specifications is one of the projects in the agency’s 2024 budget.
The Managing Director also said two of the three states granted oversight autonomy by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has requested exception for technical enforcement from the agency.
He however said the Electricity Act does not provide for their requests. Tahir noted that it will be technically inimical for different states to have different electrical standards and enforcement.
“The Electricity Act does not mention NEMSA handing over to any state. We have received request from one or two states asking us to hand over. We have responded accordingly,” he added.
He, however, said NEMSA is ready to cooperate with all the stakeholders to ensure the enforcement of technical standards is effectively carried out in the entire value chain.
“Very soon, we will engage the governments, especially to discuss our areas of collaboration. We also intend to meet those that requested to discuss.”