Recall that President Buhari had promised that Nigerians would be metered to end estimated billing before the end of his administration.
On Thursday, the Federal Government last night said that it will commence the distribution of free meters with the target of getting 30 million consumers.
The National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) which is set to be launched simultaneously in Kano, Kaduna, Eko, and Ikeja DISCO franchise areas, will commence today Friday, October 30, 2020.
According to a Presidential source:
“NMMP is to roll out six million meters for all connections points on grid without meters over the next 18 to 24 months, estimating to impact 30 million consumers nationwide.
“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 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”
The source also disclosed that the locations to receive meters include Bawo Road and environs in Kano metropolis (KEDCO), Governor Road/Tudun Wada in Kaduna (Kaduna Electric), Oshodi Business Unit in Ikeja (Ikeja Electric), and Yaba and Surulere (Eko DISCO).
Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, when contacted said 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.