…World Bank funds only 1.2m meters
The Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria (AMMON) has formally withdrawn a court case it instituted to stop the procurement process for phase two of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).
This decision was taken after the intervention of the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu at a stakeholder meeting held at the Federal Ministry of Power, where all the association’s concerns were tabled before the Minister.
In attendance at the stakeholders’ meeting were the Chairman, NERC, represented by Mr. Nathan Shatti; Commissioner, Finance and Administration, Dr. Alex Okoh; the Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and other directors in the Federal Ministry of Power.
It should be noted that the World Bank is funding only 1.2 million meters.
During the meeting, the Minister promised that AMMON members will be accommodated in the procurement process for the World Bank funded NMMP phase 2 through a national competitive bid.
The government also agreed to work with the local meter manufacturers to implement other metering initiatives to address the huge metering gap in the power sector.
President, Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria (AMMON), Engr. Ademola Agoro said the association was happy with Adelabu’s reaffirmation of government’s determination to ensure that Nigeria becomes self-sufficient in local meter manufacturing and production to close the huge metering gap of over 8.0 million meters.
“Though this is a painful decision for the members of the association, the decision to discontinue the court case stopping the procurement process was done in national interest and because of liquidity challenges of the power sector.
“We therefore seek the support of all stakeholders to work with the association to develop the metering sector and the backward integration programme of the federal government,” Agoro said.
