In a statement released on Friday, April 12, 2019, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said, it had issued permits to Meter Asset Providers of Ikeja and Benin Disco’s in accordance with Section 4(3) of the MAP regulations.
That statement was purportedly released by Dr Usman Arab, NERC’s General Manager, Public Affairs, in Abuja that the permit was granted to the MAPs that were successful in the procurement conducted by Ikeja and Benin DisCos.
Arab said, Section 4(3) of the 2018 MAP regulations required all electricity distribution licensees to engage MAPs that would assist as investors to close the metering gap and thus eliminate the estimated billing in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
He said Ikeja DisCo had appointed Mojec International Limited to provide 399,790 meters, while Consolidated Infrastructure Group Ltd is to provide 397,922 meters.
And that, New Hamshire Capital Ltd would also supply 276,699 meters within the Ikeja Disco’s coverage areas under MAP.
He said NERC has directed that the roll out of meters shall begin on May 1, upon payment of either N36,991.50 for single phase meters or N67,055.85 for three phase meters, and that customers of Ikeja and Benin Discos should expect installation of the meters within 10 working days of making payment to MAPs in accordance with Section 18 (3) of the MAP regulations.
However, this medium can authoritatively report that on Friday May 3, 2019, customers went to Alausa, Ikeja DisCos office of Ikeja Electric with the intention to pay for pre-paid meters but were told that there were no pre-paid meters available, no application to make, no forms to fill and even no information to give as per inquiries.
When they knew that they are not serious about it, why did they issue such statement to waist people’s time? Who are they deceiving?