FG commences inspection of electricity poles

• …insists on quality specifications

By Etuka Sunday

The federal government has commenced the inspection of electricity pole manufacturing industries in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to assure the quality of electric power installations.

The Managing Director of the new Electricity Management Services Limited (EMSL), Engr. Peter Ewesor at the inspection tour, Wednesday said, “We are ensuring that poles have the required quality, stability

and strength to withstand the load they carry and other external loads like wind pressure.”

Ewesor insists that electric pole manufacturers both local and mechanised must comply to guidelines for all industries listed on the National Electric Poles Manufacturers’ Directory (NEPMD), adding that EMSL is revalidating the directory soon.

EMSL is one of the utility companies established last year to carry out inspection, testing and certification of electric equipment in the now privatised Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to ensure that low quality and substandard materials are not used.

Since its establishment as an independent agency, Ewesor said the duties and technical power of the Electricity Inspectorate Services Department in the Federal Ministry of Power were fully transferred to EMSL.

While giving the pole manufacturers additional requirements he said, “As you see today, we are telling them that though they are have the quality, we are giving them three additional requirements to ensure that the poles are suited for the right purpose.”

The requirements include, marking of poles planting depth, engraving the batch and date of producing the poles, and the company’s name on each pole that is being deployed for use.

Ewesor noted that the sensitisation shall continue across the 15 Zonal offices and 36 states nationwide, and that sanctions will follow for defaulters after revalidating the pole directory and issuing full

operational guidelines to the manufacturers.

The Technical Manager of ITB Nigeria Limited, one of the industries inspected in the FCT, Mr Peter Boynoc said the additional requirements was noted and would implement it immediately in their subsequent poles production.