My people, we don hear am well, free electricity meters dey ground for Naija. Na Dr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi, Director-General for Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), wey yarn this matter for Abuja. E clear say the meters wey dem dey deploy under the World Bank–funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) no go cost you any kobo, not even installation fees!
Dr. Gbeleyi come set record straight during one media briefing wey plenty stakeholders dey ground. Him talk say the $500 million DISREP initiative go help bridge the metering gap wey dey jam Naija power supply, and also help eliminate that wahala called estimated billing wey plenty people don suffer from. E no go make sense to still dey reason say you go pay for meter, abeg! As e be, nobody suppose collect any money from you.
“There don dey plenty wahala concerning payment for these meters before,” Dr. Gbeleyi yan. “Now we dey use this opportunity clear any confusion wey dey, so that everybody go sabi wetin dem suppose do.” E even talk say this programme na major agenda for Mr President, to ensure say power wey we dey consume no go turn to bad market.
Na so our oga, Dr. Musliu Oseni, wey be Chairman for Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) come confirm say the government don carry the full cost of the meters, thanks to the World Bank partnership. E talk say anytime anybody show face dey demand money for DISREP meters, make you report am sharp-sharp to NERC or your electricity provider.
For this DISREP wahala, na $250 million wey dey support the purchase of 3.2 million smart meters. So far, over 182,000 meters don already land for Naija. DisCos suppose use only 20% from the supply to change any bad meter; una no need to pay them anything, my people!
E get statistics from Engr. Abdulaziz Sule, wey be Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), wey talk say we don reduce our metering gap from 10 million to about 5 million. E also indicate say the Federal Government don meet 75% of DISREP requirements. Na serious progress be this one, my guy!
And for Dr. Peter Asuben, Acting Managing Director of Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), e talk say dem don test over 576,208 meters by December 2025, with more meters dey on ground. Even our beloved Minister for Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, come talk say DISREP na to improve electricity distribution and service. Na sweet plan for us o!
The DisCos wey dey represent everywhere from Abuja to Eko, Ibadan, Kaduna, and Yola, don promise to support this initiative. Although dem deny say dem dey involved for extortion, dem say na una wey collect money no be their wahala. But e good make dem run awareness campaigns to educate the public well.
At the end of the day, this whole DISREP plan na serious reform wey go help our electricity sector and make sure say everybody dey enjoy correct service delivery. My fellow Naijas, make we dey sharp to report any form of extortion for this meter matter!
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