Abuja: The Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) and the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen regulatory compliance and capacity building in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector. The partnership aims to improve safety standards, industry coordination, and awareness of regulations guiding renewable energy installations and inspections across the country.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the collaboration will promote stakeholder engagement, industry awareness, and stronger enforcement mechanisms to curb substandard practices and improve compliance with approved standards in the sector. Both organisations agreed to organise regular webinars, information sessions, and certification examinations for renewable energy practitioners, including members of REAN.
The engagements will focus on certification requirements, inspection processes, mini-grid regulations, Commercial and Industrial (C and I) solar standards, and newly introduced policies in the renewable energy sector. The webinar series will also provide stakeholders with opportunities to seek clarification on regulatory updates and implementation guidelines.
President of REAN, Mr. Ayo Ademilua, emphasized the importance of moving beyond the signing of the MoU into active execution through a clear implementation mechanism. He also highlighted the necessity for a focal coordination structure to ensure continuity, improve communication, and support potential joint inspections aimed at discouraging substandard practices across the industry.
The statement further underscored the need for stronger collaboration among regulatory and standards-setting bodies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to harmonise renewable energy standards across the sector. It noted that while standards were developed through multi-stakeholder processes, enforcement remained a regulatory responsibility.
REAN will continue supporting alignment efforts by regularly publicising relevant standards to ensure consistency and strengthen a unified regulatory approach within the industry.