Fashola
•Ministry eyes job creation through meter production
Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola yesterday met with local manufacturers of electricity meters to work out how to rapidly roll out more of the energy measuring devices.
He said rapid production of the meters would ensure that distribution companies charge consumers only for energy they consume.
But a report submitted to the meeting indicated that there are over three million unmetered customers in the country.
The ministry said the Federal Government’s policy was to bridge this gap with maximum impact on local manufacturing and job generation through local firms.
A statement from the ministry said Fashola, who was joined by the Minister of State, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, urged the “local meter manufacturers to think outside the box through innovations to reap bountifully in the fledging electricity industry”.
The forum deliberated on issues of concern to the Federal Government and the local manufacturers, including the need for distribution companies to patronise locally manufactured meters.
On their concerns, the representative of the group, Kola Balogun, said access to and cost of credit was a major impediment to the growth of their production capacity in meeting demand for meters.
The local manufacturers assured the minister of their readiness to support the rapid roll-out plan, but urged government to put in place clearer incentives for local production as opposed to importation of meters.
The parties agreed to continuous engagement among actors – government, local meter manufacturers, distribution companies, the industry regulators and others – on the issue.
inister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola yesterday met with local manufacturers of electricity meters to work out how to rapidly roll out more of the energy measuring devices.
He said rapid production of the meters would ensure that distribution companies charge consumers only for energy they consume.
But a report submitted to the meeting indicated that there are over three million unmetered customers in the country.
The ministry said the Federal Government’s policy was to bridge this gap with maximum impact on local manufacturing and job generation through local firms.
A statement from the ministry said Fashola, who was joined by the Minister of State, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, urged the “local meter manufacturers to think outside the box through innovations to reap bountifully in the fledging electricity industry”.
The forum deliberated on issues of concern to the Federal Government and the local manufacturers, including the need for distribution companies to patronise locally manufactured meters.
On their concerns, the representative of the group, Kola Balogun, said access to and cost of credit was a major impediment to the growth of their production capacity in meeting demand for meters.
The local manufacturers assured the minister of their readiness to support the rapid roll-out plan, but urged government to put in place clearer incentives for local production as opposed to importation of meters.
The parties agreed to continuous engagement among actors – government, local meter manufacturers, distribution companies, the industry regulators and others – on the issue.
