A Former President of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers, NIEEE, Engr Emmanuel Akinwole has warned that anyone practising engineering without knowledge and application of relevant professional codes and regulation is at best a professional charlatan.
He said this while presenting a lecture topic: The Electricity and Communications Regulations and practices of Nigeria. ” at the AWPEN Lagos Monthly technical Session.
The Managing Director AKW Engineering Limited, therefore urged engineers, especially those in electric and power sector to familiarise themselves with all relevant codes, regulations governing the practices of the profession.
During the session, he dwelled on the roles of electricity in economic development of Nigeria and factors hindering the profession. He stressed that “without Power No meaningful life, leisure or work can take place.”
He pointed that one factors that needs further pushes in the practice of ( electrical) engineering in Nigeria is compliance with relevant codes and regulations governing the profession.
He said that key major stakeholders engineering regulations like, COREN, ACEN, NIEEE, NSE, NERC, NIPE,etc have agreed that local publication of regulation and codes on engineering practice must be encouraged, sustained and supported if Nigeria must advance in being relevant in development of its infrastructure and people.
Therefore, anyone that practices engineering without knowledge and application of necessary codes,regulations and standards is at best a Professional Charlatan and subject to necessary punishment and penalties on conviction!
He explained that Safety is paramount in Electrical/Electronic engineering. Reminding that while “Electricity is a good SERVANT but a bad MASTER!” therefore Safety cannot be achieved where there are no standard/regulation to be taught ,learnt,followed and enforced.
As a result of this the renown Electrical engineer stressed the importance of Standard and Regulations in the industry.He said that Regulations and Standards are intended to enhance quality of life and livelihood of people and benefits of all stakeholders through use of proven materials, works and equipment. He highlighted the roles of all the regulator bodies within the elctrical and power sector. Such as the NERC, MENSA, NCC (Communication)
Any practitioner that works without use or reference to recognized codes and standards is subject to punishment and penalties on conviction.
It will be recalled that Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005, Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission Act 2010 and NEMSA Act 2015 were repealed and replaced by the Electricity Act (EA) 2023 on 6th June, 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
The Act repeals the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 (EPSRA) and aims to consolidate the laws relating to electricity in Nigeria across the entire value chain of the Nigerian Power Sector, including the integration of renewable energy to Nigeria’s energy mix. In addition, the Act aims to encourage state government participation in the power sector and increase private sector investment.
The Act being a unified legal and institutional framework for the Nigerian Power Sector, provides guidance on the operation of the electricity market and more importantly seeks to stimulate policy measures to attract investment across the Nigerian electricity value chain for the development of a competitive electricity market in Nigeria. Some of the key provisions highlighted in the Act have been summarised below: a) Creation of State Electricity Markets and b) Incorporation and Licensing of Independent Systems Operator (ISO), c) Development and Utilisation of Renewable Energy, d) Establishment of the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), e) Formulation of National Integrated Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan (NIEPSIP)
Here is a rundown of how the reform has played out from 1999 to 2023:
1999: Electric Power Sector Implementation Committee was inaugurated
2001: The Nigerian Electric Power Policy (NEPP) was developed
2002: NEPP was adopted
2005: Enactment of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA)
2005-2007: Establishment of NERC; formation of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN); unbundling of the PHCN into 18 independent companies
2010: The Presidential Action Committee on Power (PACP) and Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) were established; the Roadmap for Power Sector Reform was released; the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) was incorporated.
2012: The Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2 was approved and released
2013: Privatization of the generation and distribution subsectors; the transmission subsector was retained by the government and operated under a management contract by MHI Interim Rules Period (IRP) and the accumulation of N213 billion arrears/debt (to be repaid by Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilization Facility (NEMSF) which included N14 billion for legacy gas debt).
2015: February: MYTO 2.1 was approved and released. Petition by various consumer groups, evoked by electricity price increases of up to 80%, led to the amendment of MYTO 2.1 and a price drop of 25%.
February: Commencement of Transitional Electricity Market (TEM), after NERC declared all Conditions Precedent in the Market Rules as satisfied (1st February).
March to June: Major disruption to ELPS throughout the year.
2016: February: MYTO 2015 became effective
March: Major disruption to Escravos-Lagos-Pipeline System (ELPS) throughout the year
May: Naira revaluation (Retail Tariff unchanged)
December: No MYTO Review (Retail Tariff unchanged)
2017: February: NERC Commissioners sworn in
March: Power Sector Recovery Program (PSRP) approved
2019: July: Retroactive review of MYTO 2015 and introduction of Minimum Remittance Obligation (MRO)
2020: September: The Service Based Tariff (SBT) regime commenced
2022: June: Partial Contract Activation in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI)
July: Approval and implementation of regulatory net-off.
2023: April: Initiation of Bilateral Market Regime
May: Constitution Amendment
June: Enactment of Electricity Act 2023.