“What the FCT water board is doing in the whole territory is to ensure that all properties are metered but we are doing it phase by phase. There are three types of meters in operation, the analogue, the automated and the prepaid meter. So what we are interested in is that all properties must be metered irrespective of the type,’’ he said.
Dada said that the prepaid meter was being test-run in Apo Legislative Quarters and Games Village and would be extended to other parts of the territory subsequently. He said that the forum was aimed at improving customer relationship and afford the board’s management opportunity to meet with the customers one-on-one. Dada said that the Gudu Area Office which was created in December 2008 had achieved a lot of successes.
“Within this short period, our bill distribution coverage has increased significantly. Properties that were regarded as unidentified or non-existing have now been receiving their bills in Durumi and Gudu in particular.
“We have also improved our response to maintenance activities as can now be witnessed in the entire districts in Gudu Area Office. We have also found ways to narrow down disconnection to only defaulters as against total shut-down.
“In spite all of the above, our monthly revenue generation has only improved marginally from N3 million to N5 million in the last five months instead of expected collectable revenue of about N10 million,” he said.
In a remark, Mr Michael Adebayor, the Head, Quality Control, said that the board was committed to supplying its customers water that meets international standards.
He urged residents of the estate to embrace the prepaid billing system, describing it as hassle free.
He urged customers to pay their bills promptly and to always grant the board’s staff access to their property, upon identification, to enable them to read the meters and carry out maintenance checks.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many residents of the estate complained mainly of overbilling, inherited bills and accumulated bills.
Others included the non-supply of meters paid for, late receipt of bills and non-reflection of payments.
A resident, Mr Festus Osayi, commended the board for its services and advised it to consider installing the prepaid meters to all residents and also amortise it.
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