On Monday, the Nigerian Energy Management Services Agency issued a directive to the nation’s energy distribution businesses, asking them to replace deteriorating distribution networks in their franchise regions within a week.

According to the statement, the DISCOs were given a two-month notice period earlier to make the required adjustments before receiving this most recent warning.

During the 2024 Customer Service Week in Abuja on Monday, Tukur Aliyu, the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation and Managing Director of NEMSA, revealed this to the media.

He clarified that the DisCos were instructed to carry out the required upgrades to guarantee the safe distribution of energy throughout the nation after it was found that the majority of the distribution networks were ageing and inadequate.

NEMSA had ordered Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company to update a portion of its network in the capital of Cross River State after an electrocution event occurred in Calabar. However, according to Aliyu, the utility’s work was found to be inadequate following two inspection visits.

“We sent them an enforcement notice after visiting Calabar twice to make sure they completed the task we had requested them to. We were taken aback by their lack of compliance. However, when we also took a broader look at the networks, we found that they were comparable across the nation.

We thus started over and sent enforcement directions to all of the nation’s utility businesses. They have two months to ensure that every one of the guidelines’ listed areas is properly implemented.

Next week marks the conclusion of the two-month deadline. Our officers are already on the field and will move quickly to monitor those locations before reporting back to us at headquarters, he said.

The goal of customer service week, according to him, is to recognise the teamwork and dedication of all employees and to make sure that the company’s services and support go above and beyond for clients. This implies that “our service processes and delivery should transcend our normal mode of carrying out our functions.”

Additionally, he urged electrical users to only hire licensed electricians to complete installations on their homes.

According to him, this will make it possible to follow them in the event that any work-related safety concerns arise.

These are the ones who will make sure that the technical requirements we have in place to successfully minimise this threat are followed. Making sure that your electric installation is being done by qualified professionals should be your first step. When there are any problems, you may find the certified individual here,” he continued.

Speaking at the function, SERVICOM’s National Coordinator, Mrs. Nnenna Akajemeli, noted that the purpose of customer service week is to raise awareness of the value of people in order to foster teamwork and morale.

He mentioned that the topic for 2024 is “Above and beyond,” which highlights going above and beyond in all areas of service, internal or external, such as testing and certifying all types of electrical installations in the nation.