Business
FG To Enforce Electricity Materials, Installations Standardisation
Minister of Statefor
Power, Mr Mohammed Wakil, has said that Federal Government was set to enforce quality control and standard of electricity materials and installations.
Wakil gave the assurance during the commissioning of the Remodeled National Meter Test Station and opening of the Technical Inspectorate Service Field Office in Lagos, recently.
The minister said that President Goodluck Jonathan had successfully reformed the generation, transmission and distribution sub-sectors, adding that government now focused on effective delivery of safe and reliable electricity supply to Nigerians.
According to him, “we are resolved to enhance consumers and investors’ confidence and certification through sustained inspection, testing and certification of electrical materials and equipment.
“Electricity materials should be of the high quality and specification; all categories of electrical installations, power systems and network must be properly planned, designed and exulted before use.
“Gone are the days of sub-standard equipment and installations which compromised safety of Nigerians. More pointedly manufacturers of fake power equipment are hereby put on notice.
“The long arm of law shall catch-up with those endangering lives of innocent citizens. Nigerians not only want adequate power supply but also safety and reliability”.
Wakil said that the significance of safety and quality control informed the establishment of Electricity Management Services Limited (EMSL), one of the successor companies established by law.
He added that the agency had grown from nothing to an emerging giant.
“I am happy to note that EMSL has, within this short period, achieved remarkable successes which included the re-modeled meter test station and others at Kaduna and Port Harcourt.
“The technical inspectorate service field offices of EMSL has detected defective power equipment in many zones,” he added.
The Managing Director, EMSL, Mr Peter Ewesor, said that the remodeled national meter testing station would be saddled with the roles and responsibilities of enforcement of technical and safety standard.
Ewesor said that others were technical inspection, testing and certification of all categories of electrical materials and equipment and electrical installations.
He said that in line with EMSL mandate and regulations, no electrical installation or network could be used unless it had been tested and certified fit for use by their engineers and technical officers of EMSL.
“Over 10,000 substandard meters have been rejected for not having anti-energy-theft protection. These types would have led to high commercial and collection losses for the investors.
“We have rejected over 5,000 meters having terminal connections that were out of specifications; this would have led to risk to workers and staff of the utility companies and possible burning of the meters on installations,” he said.
The Tide source reports that EMSL is a pivot part of the power sector that provides technical support service of enforcement of technical standard, safety and specification in the power sector.
Edun made the call while speaking at the 2025 Fellowship Investiture of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Lagos, where he reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to sustaining ongoing reforms and expanding access to finance as key drivers of economic growth beyond four per cent.
“We all know that monetary policy under Cardoso has stabilised the financial system in a most commendable way. Of course, it is a team effort, and those eye-watering interest rates have to be paid by the fiscal side. But the fight against inflation is one we all have to participate in,” he said.
The minister stressed the need for banks to broaden credit access and finance innovation-driven enterprises that can create jobs for young Nigerians.
“The finance and banking industry has more work to do because we must finance their ideas, deepen the capital and credit markets down to SMEs. They should not have to go to Silicon Valley,” he said.
The minister who described the private sector as the engine of growth, said the government’s reform agenda aims to create an enabling environment where businesses can thrive, access funding, and contribute meaningfully to job creation.
The facility, known as the Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration (P512892), is a Development Policy Financing (DPF) operation scheduled for World Bank Board consideration on December 16, 2025.
According to the Bank’s concept note , the financing would comprise $500m in International Development Association (IDA) credit and $500m in International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loan.
If approved, it would be the second-largest single loan Nigeria has received from the World Bank under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, following the $1.5 billion facility granted in June 2024 under the Reforms for Economic Stabilisation to Enable Transformation (RESET) initiative.
The World Bank said the new programme aims to support Nigeria’s shift from short-term macroeconomic stabilisation to sustainable, private sector–led growth.
“The proposed Development Policy Financing (DPF) supports Nigeria’s pivot from stabilization to inclusive growth and job creation. Structured as a two-tranche standalone operation of US$1.0 billion (US$500 million IDA credit and US$500 million IBRD loan), it seeks to catalyse private sector–led investment by expanding access to credit, deepening capital markets and digital services, easing inflationary pressures, and promoting export diversification,” the document read.
The document further stated that Nigeria’s private sector credit-to-GDP ratio stood at only 21.3 per cent in 2024, significantly below that of emerging-market peers, while capital markets remain shallow, with sovereign securities dominating the bond market.
To address these weaknesses, the DPF will support the implementation of the Investment and Securities Act 2025, operationalisation of credit-enhancement facilities, and introduction of a comprehensive Central Bank of Nigeria rulebook to strengthen risk-based regulation and consumer protection.
The operation also includes measures to deepen digital inclusion through the passage of the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2025, which will establish a legal framework for electronic transactions, authentication services, and digital records.
Beyond the financial and digital sectors, the programme targets reforms to lower production and living costs by tackling Nigeria’s restrictive trade regime. High tariffs and import bans have long driven up consumer prices and constrained competitiveness, particularly for manufacturers and farmers.
Under the proposed reforms, Nigeria would adopt AfCFTA tariff concessions, rationalise import restrictions, and simplify agricultural seed certification to increase the supply of high-quality varieties for maize, rice, and soybeans. The World Bank projects that these measures will help reduce food inflation, attract private investment, and enhance export potential.
The operation is part of a broader World Bank FY26 package that includes three complementary projects—Fostering Inclusive Finance for MSMEs (FINCLUDE), Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE), and Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth (AGROW)—all focused on expanding access to finance, strengthening institutions, and mobilising private capital.