The Federal Government, on Friday, has reportedly commenced the free distribution of electricity meters to Nigerians nationwide, with the target of getting 30 million consumers.
The Nation, citing unnamed sources in the presidency reported that the distribution has commenced on Friday, October 30, in Kano, Kaduna, Eko, and Ikeja DISCO franchise areas.
Newsmen also stated that a top source in the presidency said the locations to receive meters include Bawo Road and environs in Kano metropolis (KEDCO), Governor Road/Tudun Wada in Kaduna (Kaduna Electric).
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Other areas include Oshodi Business Unit in Ikeja (Ikeja Electric), and Yaba and Surulere (Eko DISCO) in Lagos.
According to the cited source, the distribution of the free metres would be monitored by representatives of the Lagos government, members of the Senate and House of Representatives.
The report stated that representatives of the organised labour and civil society organisations would also be included in the monitoring process.
Reports also revealed that the prepaid metres were being distributed under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).
The newspaper also cited sources in the presidency as saying that the NMMP plans to distribute six million meters over the next 18 to 24 months to consumers nationwide.
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“Following Mr President’s directive on mass metering, the Central Bank of Nigeria, on October 18th, approved guidelines for funding the mass metering programme which entailed that all meters under the scheme will be locally sourced, creating thousands of manufacturing jobs through lead manufacturers such as MOMAS, MOJEC and others.”
The source further said that ”the launch of the NMMP will be part of a continuous effort where all DisCos will go from location to location across the country with their respective Meter Asset Providers to install meters for all Nigerians.”
When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande confirmed the story but added that more details will emerge as the distribution progresses across the country.
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He added that current efforts by the Federal Government on improving power supply and mass metering was in line with some of the agreements recently reached between the FG and Organized Labour recently.
It will be recalled that President Buhari had committed that Nigerians would be metered prior to the end of his Administration and that estimated billing would be ended.
Free distribution of electricity meters was part of the agreement reached between the Federal Government and the organized labour after government increased the electricity tarrif.
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Minister of State for Power, Prince Godwin Jedy-Agba had announced that out of the six million meters to be distributed, the government would start with one mission which he said was available and they were expected to be distributed before the end of December this year.
Source: Vanguard, Nation
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