Metering: FG intensifies scheme to capture N3m unmetered Nigerians

By Lanre Adesanya

Resolved to refocus attention on the need to rapidly roll-out meters in order to ensure Distribution Companies charge electricity consumers only for energy they consumed, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN, on Monday met with local Manufacturers of Electricity Meters.

In a parley witnessed by the Minister of State, Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri and other top officials of the Ministry including the Permanent Secretary for Power, Mr Louis Edozien, Fashola stressed that he requested the meeting be convened to know first hand the challenges confronting the  local meter manufacturers and urged them to think outside the box through innovations in order to tap into the immense opportunities in the rapidly emerging electricity industry as a Private Sector driven enterprise.

According to a report reviewed at the meeting there are estimated three million unmetered customers nationwide, hence the Federal Government’s policy, through the Ministry, is to bridge this metering gap as quickly as possible with maximum impact on local manufacturing and employment potentials fully harnessed.

The forum deliberated on issues of concern to Government and the local manufacturers, to include the need for Distribution Companies to more aggressively patronize locally manufactured meters.

On their concerns, one of the representatives of the local meter manufacturers and Chairman of Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited (MEMMCOL), Engr. Kola Balogun said that access to and cost of credit is a major impediment to the growth of their production capacity in meeting present and future demands for meters.

Also on their part in a Communique released from the meeting, the local manufacturers assured the Minister of their readiness to support the rapid roll-out of meters but urged Government to put in place clearer incentives for local production as opposed to importation of meters.

While concluding the meeting, the parties agreed to continuous engagement among operatives in the Sector – Government, local meter manufacturers, Distribution Companies, the industry regulators and other stakeholders in line with the Government policy of rapid roll-out of meters, whilst promoting local manufacturing, employment generation and technological development in the country.

Some of the local meter manufacturers in attendance at the meeting were the Executive Secretary of the Electricity Meters Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (EMMAN), Mr Muideen Ibrahim, Vice Chairman of UNISTAR Hi-Tech Systems Limited, Mr Atilade Bolarinwa , the Electricity Meter Company Nigeria (EMCON) represented by Alhaji Mukhtar Lawal and Executive Director Resources of MOJEC International , Mr Akeem Balogun among others.