By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
EXTORTION LINKED to electricity meter installation has been outlawed, with the Federal Government banning distribution companies and installers from collecting any payment and warning that offenders will face prosecution.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, issued the warning on Thursday during an onsite inspection of newly imported smart meters at APM Terminals in Apapa, Lagos.
He said the meters were procured under the World Bank funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme and must be installed for consumers free of charge, adding that any demand for money would be treated as an offence.
Adelabu, who was received at the Apapa Port Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) by Area Controller Emmanuel Oshoba, expressed satisfaction over the importation of another 500,000 smart meters under DISREP.
He said the meters would be distributed to all electricity customers regardless of band and stressed that no DisCo official or installer is permitted to collect money before installation.
He explained that the inspection covered shipments imported by the FG under DISREP, which supports the importation of about 3.4 million meters in two batches.
Adelabu said the first batch totals 1.43 million meters, with close to one million already received and about 150,000 installed across all distribution companies nationwide and added that the latest shipment comprises about 500,000 smart meters.
He also said the FG would track and monitor installations and await tip-offs, noting that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and state regulatory authorities have offices in various locations.
The Minister said a customer complaint desk would also be opened to receive reports of illegal demands for money and that confirmed cases would lead to prosecution and public disclosure.
He added that unmetered customers would be registered and validated with distribution companies to accelerate installation, while clean customer data is being developed to improve deployment.
Adelabu informed that the programme covers all categories of customers and that meters will be provided across all bands.
Addressing concerns about delays, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Ayo Gbeleyi, said the bureau coordinates DISREP implementation and sits on the boards of all 11 distribution companies.
He said a new order or circular from NERC would prescribe protocols to ensure unhindered access for meter installations and added that the meters are configured to specific distribution companies with anti-theft protocols.
Chairman of Mojec, Mojisola Abdul, said almost 150,000 meters have been installed free-of-charge and urged consumers not to pay any money. She said mobile registration would enable installation within three days of registration.
Adelabu later visited the National Meter Test Station (NMTS) in Oshodi, where the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) tests meters to ensure required standards.
He said Nigeria currently has over five million customers under-estimated billing.
