The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) says it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to enhance electrical safety.

Ama Umoren, the communications and protocol unit, NEMSA, said this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

Ms Umoren said that the signing of the MoU was in compliance with electrical incidents in residential, commercial, and industrial premises, buildings as well as the building compliance to insurance policy.

According to her, the MoU establishes a collaborative framework between NEMSA and NAICOM.

She said that the framework would ensure that as a precondition, all electrical installations in residential, commercial, industrial premises, hazardous locations, industries and factories were duly certified by NEMSA, before insurance policy was processed by all insurance companies.

”This partnership aligns with the federal government’s commitment to strengthening the reliability and safety of Nigeria’s electricity sector,” he said.

Aliyu Tukur, the managing director, NEMSA, speaking at the ceremony, emphasised the importance of the collaboration in mitigating risks associated with electrical accidents and infrastructure failures.

He said: “this partnership with NAICOM is a significant step towards ensuring that all electricity consumers, operators, and investors adhere to the highest safety and risk management standards.

”By integrating insurance compliance into electrical safety enforcement, we are safeguarding lives, investments, and the overall integrity of the power sector,” he said.

Mr Tukur said going forward, it would also be a requirement by NEMSA that all facility applicants of its statutory inspection, testing and certification, should ensure that their facilities were insured with insurance companies for safety and mitigation of risk.

Olusegun Omosehin, the commissioner for insurance and chief executive officer of NAICOM, reiterated NAICOM’s commitment to ensuring that all power sector players embraced insurance as a critical risk management tool.

Mr Omosehin said that Insurance played a crucial role in cushioning the effects of electrical hazards and infrastructure-related incidents.

”Through this MoU, we will work closely with NEMSA to enforce compliance with relevant insurance policies, ensuring that the power sector operates with adequate risk mitigation mechanisms in place,.

” The collaboration will involve joint awareness campaigns, regulatory enforcement, and information-sharing initiatives to promote electrical safety and insurance adoption across the power sector.

”This strategic partnership marks a milestone in the drive to enhance safety, reliability, and sustainability within Nigeria’s electricity industry and the country at large,” he said.

(NAN)