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By Daniel Adaji
The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has said that no individual or firm will receive NEMSA certification without first registering with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
This was disclosed by the Managing Director and Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Aliyu Tahir, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NEMSA and COREN on Monday at COREN’s headquarters in Abuja.
In a statement shared with journalists on Tuesday, Aliyu said, “This partnership will enable us to consolidate efforts in promoting professionalism, accountability, and competence in the power sector. By reinforcing COREN registration requirements for all individuals and firms applying for NEMSA certification, we are creating a framework that prioritises regulatory compliance and quality service delivery.”
The agreement, according to him, is designed to improve coordination between the two regulatory bodies and ensure that only qualified professionals operate within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
Aliyu noted that the collaboration will also strengthen disciplinary processes and transparency in the sector. “It will allow us to share information on sanctions and disciplinary actions involving NEMSA-certified personnel who are also registered with COREN,” he said.
On renewable energy, he said the MoU will help address manpower gaps, support training, and uphold quality standards across emerging and traditional power systems.
He also revealed that COREN will now have representation on NEMSA’s Competency Certification Panels to ensure fairness in evaluations and certification.
COREN’s Registrar, Okorie Uche, welcomed the move, saying it aligns engineering regulations in the power sector with COREN’s legal framework.
“This is a step forward in harmonising regulatory efforts for a more effective engineering ecosystem in Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking at the event, COREN President Prof. Sadiq Abubakar described the partnership as a major milestone.
“COREN recognises the enormity of its mandate and views collaboration as a critical strategy in addressing regulatory and operational gaps,” he stated.
He added that COREN is ready to implement the partnership and has invited NEMSA to play active roles in its key committees, including the Codes and Standards Committee, the Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) Committee, the Investigative Panel, and the Disciplinary Tribunal.
NEMSA is the federal government agency that checks and certifies power projects before they are switched on. It tests and approves meters and equipment, and ensures that only properly trained, COREN-registered professionals handle critical electrical work.