The power Distribution Companies (DisCos) are targeting the installation of 10 million meters for all households in at least five years, said its representative group – Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED).
Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, the Executive Director, Research and Advocacy of ANED, Chief Sunday Oduntan blamed the COVID-19 pandemic and logistics issues for the slow metering process.
Daily Trust reports on Monday that the DisCos installed only 525,120 meters (7.5 per cent) of a 7.6m target in two years.
More so Only seven DisCos installed 16,308 meters, with five installing none despite fixing a target of one million meters between from October to December 2020 under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).
But reiterating the DisCos’ commitment to closing the 10m meter deficit, Oduntan said: “I believe that within the next five years, all households in Nigeria should be metered. When I talk about 10 million meters, it’s about those who are still building, the deficit gap; the six million meters of which one million may be completed hopefully by June.”
The DisCos’ spokesman also apologised and called for patience for the failed meter target saying, “Meter is not just something you procure and plug and play; it takes a lot of effort and logistics unlike buying a mobile phone and slotting SIM card. We are not giving excuses, all we are asking for is, to be patient with the government, to show understanding with the regulators and the operators.”
On his part, the Managing Director of MEMMCOL meter manufacturing firm, Mr Kola Balogun, exonerated the manufacturers.
“If you recall there was a scheme that was going on across the country called MAP which needed to be rounded up before we started the mass metering programme.
“A couple of DisCos needed to tidy up those ends so that the new metering initiative which is supposed to be free from the government will come in. Between October and December, that is what most of the DisCos were rounding up.”
Mr Balogun however said, the one million metering target may be met by June 2021.
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