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Kasim Sumaina, Abuja

The Chartered Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Nigeria (CIEEEN) has announced that safety regulation will top its regulatory agenda, with particular focus on hazards arising from imported electrical and electronic products and rising incidents of electrocution.

The President of the Institute, Engr. Kings Adeyemi, gave the hint yesterday during CIEEEN’s maiden interactive meeting with registered and prospective members held virtually.

Adeyemi noted that the meeting, which had 179 Chief and Principal Engineering Consultants in attendance, provided a platform for the leadership of the Institute to outline its regulatory priorities, strategic direction and plans for strengthening professional standards in Nigeria’s electrical and electronic engineering sector.

According to the communique issued after the meeting, Engr. Adeyemi will lead the development and finalisation of the Institute’s first regulation, with safety considerations taking precedence over other components of its broader five-year implementation programme.

The proposed regulation, he said is expected to address safety concerns linked to the influx of substandard imported electrical and electronic items, as well as electrocution-related incidents across the country.

He asserted that the move reflects CIEEEN’s commitment to strengthening professional regulation and protecting the public interest, stating: “The meeting also addressed the backlog of membership applications pending since December 2025.”

Adeyemi apologised to affected applicants and attributed the delay to the establishment of the Institute’s Examination Board, the development and approval of Regulatory Guidelines for Registration, and the need to ensure fair representation of various specialisations on the Board.

He disclosed that the Examination Board has been directed to fast-track the processing of all pending applications and to improve communication with applicants.

On regulatory collaboration, he noted that discussions are ongoing with the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) on mutual recognition and regulatory coordination, aimed at minimising duplication in certification and sanctions affecting practitioners.

He added that the Institute have made plans for formal engagements with the Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NIEEE) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

The interactive session also featured the presentation of CIEEEN’s Five-Year Strategic Management Plan for 2026 to 2030. The plan covers regulatory development, certification, lifelong learning, enforcement and compliance, stakeholder engagement, international partnerships and financial sustainability.

Adeyemi however stressed that as part of efforts to formalise informal practice and bridge existing knowledge gaps, they have further plans to establish training and certification centres for craftsmen and technicians to be led by qualified technologists and engineers.