THERE is hope for more job opportunities in indigenous meter manufacturing firms as the Federal government embarks on the next leg of its mass metering programme.
The government plans to install four million meters under the first phase of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) by the end of August 2022.
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, who confirmed the development in Abuja on Tuesday, said the new meters would be sourced from indigenous meter manufacturers.
Meter manufacturing firms in the country are excited about the promise, stressing the hope it offers for them to create more jobs along the metering value-chain.
A meter manufacturer and power expert, Kola Balogun, said the phase one of the NMMP can create 500,000 jobs for Nigerians.
Balogun, who is the chairman, Momas Electricity Meter Manufacturing Company (MEMMCOL), spoke on the back of the government’s intention.
The mass metering programme is part of federal government’s efforts to address liquidity concerns in the power sector while ensuring that consumers pay for market-reflective tarrif on consumed power.
READ ALSO:
Metered electricity customers grew by 6.8% in 5 years – NBS
30m customers unmetered in five years – Report
AEDC moves to close 300,000 metering gap with deployment of 180,000 meters
Confusion as FG hikes cost of meters despite free mass metering project
Buttressing the minister’s stance, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) also revealed that it has received bids from 45 local meter manufacturers wishing to participate in the NMMP.
The NERC said it was reviewing bids.
NERC’s Commissioner for Finance and Management Service, Nathan Shatti, gave this information at an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Wednesday.
Shatti said the procurement process for the second phase had started in early 2022, and the NERC was currently reviewing the capacity of the manufacturers.
He said in a statement, “Our target is to install four million meters for customers. From our experience in phase zero, we want to make sure that the manufacturers can deliver before allocation is made.
“I am sure that we will be able to finish the assessment by the end of this month and it will be finalised by the Procurement Implementation Unit.
“We are hoping that before the end of August, we will begin to see meters from our local manufacturers going to the electricity distribution companies, and then to the end-user customers.”
The NMMP was initiated by the Federal government to close the metering gap in the electricity supply industry and ensure that consumers are billed appropriately for the electricity they consume by installing meters free of charge in household and business premises.
The scheme, which has helped to increase private sector participation through investing in local meter assembly, manufacturing and installation, is also expected to assist in reducing collection losses, while at the same time increase financial flows to achieve 100 per cent market remittance obligation of the DisCos.
The objectives also include the elimination of arbitrary estimated billing, improving network monitoring capability and provision of data for market administration and investment decision-making.
The phase zero (first phase) of the NMMP was flagged off on October 30, 2020, with about 980,000 electricity customers installed with free pre-paid meters under the phase.
Some industry watchers have expressed optimism on the mass metering project, while also urging the government to speed up the process and ensure the metering gap is closed.
“Bidding has been done already. It must be followed up to a successful completion. The life of the administration will soon come to an end. We need them to speed up the process and leave no stone unturned,” an energy lawyer and power sector consultant, Chuks Nwani, told the ICIR.
Harrison Edeh is a journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, always determined to drive advocacy for good governance through holding public officials and businesses accountable.