Resume free metre distribution, FG orders DisCos

The Federal Government has given instructions to electricity distribution companies to resume the Metre Assets Providers programme, recently slowed down by the National Mass Metering Programme.

Although the DisCos’ MAP has been in existence for some years, the NMMP programme under the office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was introduced in 2020 to bridge the wide metering gap in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI.

While the MAP had barely reached 400, 000 homes in 2020, FG’s NMMP intervention in Phase 0 succeeded in reaching over 800,000 homes.

Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Garuba Sanusi, said last week that Phase 1 of the Federal Government’s NMMP was billed to begin in August, and as a result, DisCos had been ordered to resume and speed up on the MAP.

“By the end of August, metres from local manufacturers will be deployed by the DisCos. As a result, DisCos have been ordered to re-open the MAP, and customers are advised to take advantage of the window to purchase theirs if they cannot wait for the free metres,” he said.

He disclosed that 45 local metre manufacturers were currently jostling to be signed under FG’s metre providers’ programme.

Sanusi added that bids had already been submitted by the 45 manufacturers and the selection process had begun.

“Names of winners of the bid rounds will be announced as soon as the process is completed,” he said