Dollars and naira fly for Naija as we dey talk meter matter. E get one big programme wey Federal Government carry give World Bank, wey dem call Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP). But my people, e no dey sweet for we body because only about 200,000 smart meters don land wahala since everywhere jollof for four years wey dem dey plan this project.
The gist be say, na because under this programme wey dem talk say dem go bridge 5.66 million metering gap for Nigeria, we still dey lag behind. Over 700,000 meters don reach Naija but dis electricity distribution companies, wey we sabi call DisCos, no feedback well on installation. Na dem officials from Bureau of Public Enterprises go hold press briefing for Abuja, as dem dey shake body over this matter.
Ayodeji Gbeleyi, wey be the Director-General for BPE, say DISREP na big something for Naija. E talk say dem go carry come smart meters, make everybody fit dey pay light bill wey correct. ‘Meters and installation no go cost customers anything. We don pay contractor, and we go collect wetin we spend through Multi-Year Tariff Order, wey NERC dey control,’ e talk am.
No be joke o! Dem plan to roll out 3.2 million smart meters over four years, wey go include local and international bids. Phase one carry 1,437,500 smart meters, but dem still get another 1.55 million for phase two. Local manufacturers dey lend hand with 217,000 meters.
Olowoniyi, wey be Chief Technical Adviser to Minister of Power, don drop the bomb say installation statistics no sweet. Na so dem don deploy just about 150,000 to 200,000 meters. Dis distribution issue dey vex people because na here na we dey have problem for power value chain. E sure say this administration go close that meter gap sharp sharp!
NERC Chairman, Musiliu Olalekan Oseni, join gists talk say metering dey important to make consumers and utilities trust each other again. E no go gree say misinformation dey fly for media, say dis meeting go correct am. Meter no be just iron, na wetin go help utility recover money and make customers dey see wetin dem dey pay for.
DISREP dey connect with other initiatives, including Presidential Metering Initiative wey wan quicken meter deployment for Naija. World Bank don dash $500m to make the work go fast, and this money go help create service wey dey better, governance wey dey strong, and close metering gap wey don dey disturb us since.
Aisha Tukur, wey be Director for Energy Sector Department, don talk say DISREP no be just about metering. Dis programme dey focus on making the whole electricity value chain work better. DisCos go dey receive technical help, training, and systems to make things easy while people dey feel say dem dey billed correctly.
But no be only sweet talk o! DisCos still dey drag leg on installation, and plenty meters still dey wait to enter house. Chief Executives for DisCos don promise say dem go ginger deployment, but dem still warn say consumers no go try meter bypass or tampering because e go just scatter everything!
World Bank don approve $500m for DISREP since February 2021 to shake up the electricity distribution segment for Naija. Dis na chance wey we fit use to fine-tune service delivery, governance, and address this long-time metering wahala. E be like say e go require sabi steps and sharp action make we see light for our homes.
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