Michael James
Lagos — Experts and regulators are seeking increased collaboration, advocacy and sensitisation as part of efforts to curb incessant electrical fire outbreaks in buildings across the country.
This was the focus at the Eaton Safety Roundtable tagged “Enhancing Electric Safety in Buildings”.
Affirming the importance of collaboration amongst all stakeholders to ensure standardisation in the industry, Engr. Usman Momoh, Assistant General Manager, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, said this will go a long way in enhancing safety in both residential and commercial properties.
He revealed that the regulators as watchdog has the role of enforcing safety codes and standards.
“Prevention is better and cheaper than cure. Safety in buildings should precede the design of buildings. Regulation is the foundation on which safety in buildings depend upon. However, ignorance and lack of awareness on the regulatory requirements often lead to loss of not just properties but lives,” Momoh stated.
Engr. Achema Alewu, Assistant Director, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, reiterated the need for increased collaboration among stakeholders.
“We will continue to ramp up measures to stem wide circulation of substandard products of imports and local manufactures. However, only through increased awareness and continuous collaboration between all stakeholders will we effectively reduce, to the barest minimum, the cases of electrical fires in buildings” he said.
Also speaking, Charles Iyo, Regional Manager, Eaton Nigeria, claimed that the existence of counterfeit products has continued to threaten safety in buildings and his company will continue to collaborate with the government agencies and relevant stakeholders to eradicate such products in the market.
“We will continue to advocate for knowledge sharing sessions such as this to bring all relevant stakeholders together, ensuring that the tough conversations are had while also providing access to members of the public to ask and receive answers to pertinent questions,” Iyo declared.
The panel session at the event featured Engr Achema Alewu, Assistant Director, Standards Organisation of Nigeria; Engr. Usman Momoh, Assistant General Manager, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency; Engr Abdulrasheed Busari, Assistant General Manager, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission; Mr Semiu Adeshina, Commandant, Technical Services, State Fire and Rescue Service and Charles Iyo, Regional Manager, Eaton Nigeria, amongst others.
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