The Federal Government under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) has commenced the distribution of free electricity meters to Nigerians across the country.
The distribution which was launched yesterday in Kano, Kaduna, Eko, and Ikeja DISCO franchise areas, will target all households in the country.
The programme was initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure mass metering with the hope of putting an end to the problem of estimated billing in the electricity sector.
Mr Laolu Akande, a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, revealed that the locations to receive meters include Bawo Road and environs in Kano metropolis, Governor Road/Tudun Wada in Kaduna, Oshodi Business Unit in Ikeja, as well as Yaba and Surulere areas of Lagos State.
Key stakeholders to monitor the launch of the distribution include Kaduna, Kano, and Lagos government representatives, the Senate Committee, and House Chair on Power as well as representatives of Organised Labour and Civil Society Organisations.
He said, the NMMP is to roll out 6 million meters for all connections points on the grid without meters over the next 18 to 24 months, estimating to impact 30 million consumers nationwide.
He disclosed that the Central Bank of Nigeria, on 18 October, approved guidelines for funding the mass metering programme, which entailed that all meters under the scheme would be locally sourced, thereby creating thousands of manufacturing jobs through lead manufacturers across the country.
He further said that the launch of the Program would be part of a continuous effort where all DisCos would go from location to location across the country with their respective Meter Asset Providers to install meters for all Nigerians.
He therefore commended the current efforts by the Federal Government on improving power supply and mass metering, which according to him is part of the agreements recently reached between the FG and Organised Labour.
It would be recalled that Buhari had committed that Nigerians would be metered prior to the end of his administration and that estimated billing would be ended.
