Meter distribution: We have surpassed FG’s expectation — MMAAN insists
By Akinyemi Precious
The Meter Manufacturers and Assemblers Association of Nigeria (MMAAN) has made it known that it has exceeded the Federal Government’s expectation in meter installation and assembling.
This was clarified in its release to the general public yesterday validated by Acting President Engineer. Ademola Agoro FNSE and Secretary, Engineer Duro Omogbenigun.
Giving kudos to the Federal Government and its agencies for recognising their efforts, especially the involvement of local meter manufacturers to nation-building and economic development in its recently released report card titled “Buhari’s Footprints on the Sands of Time,” where it was stated that the nationwide rollout of electricity meters under the National Mass Metering Programme generated 10,000 new jobs in meter installation and assembly.
The Meter Manufacturers and Assemblers Association of Nigeria (MMAAN) has given credence to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for financing the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to ensure patriotic and efficient regulation.
It was also affirmed that meter installation and assembly was directly under the output schedule of local meter manufacturers, through whom the Federal Government planned on stimulating meter manufacturing industry in Nigeria, not only to bridge the electricity meter gap, but to work towards Backward Integration Programme intended to guarantee Nigeria’s long term economic resilience and sustainability.
However, they made note that the figure released by the government only scratches the surface of their contributions so far as 1 million quality meters were provided in the first phase (Phase 0) as referred to by the Government and official estimates put multiplier effects to have reached at least 3000 persons per factory.
Thus, about 50,000 jobs were created for support services personnel, meter installers and after-sales service providers nationwide.
Though outstanding in technical terms, their national contributions are more universal in the creation of multi-layered deliverables in a chain of multiplier effects which effectively surpass the Federal Government’s 10,000 job numbers.
Additionally, all meters produced were distinctly durable, fit for the Nigerian environment and duly tested and certified for quality by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).
After meeting expectations and delivering on Phase 0, structures were scaled up and operations accordingly for the second phase of the NMMP initiated by the Federal Government in 2021.
“Currently, the local meter manufacturing industry has seen an increase from 13 to 43 companies, with a commensurate escalation in manufacturing capacity officially assessed at 4.9 million meters per year; now positioned to provide Nigerian electricity consumers with another 4 million meters. But, sadly, the NMMP Phase 1 has been put on hold by the CBN, which effectively threatens the survival of local meter manufacturers, with myriads of potential job loss,” it said.
Towards backward integration and wider environmental impact,it was revealed that the meter-manufacturing industry buys large quantities of raw materials from the local producers for its operation, like copper and aluminum cables and each unit of electricity meter requires at least one metre length of rubber pipe (trunking) for its production and the environment factored in the value chain through waste management services with prospects of expanding the country’s circular economy spinoff industry.
On the same hand, while the Nigerian economy benefits from tax payments and customs duty remitted by their companies to the government, this emerging industry is also actively involved in technology transfer and after sales services which strengthen the intellectual fabric of the country’s evolving engineering expertise and empowers the artisanal layer of the informal sector.
However, they expressed displeasure and shock that their association was unjustifiably linked in some media reports to alleged corruption and weak regulation in the nation’s power sector. With certainty and clarity, this is to notify the general public that the association has only set its mind on adding their own building blocks to the growing edifice of the industrial revolution in Nigeria.
Making reference to the specific case mentioned where the CBN, in July 2022, froze some Meter Asset Providers’ bank accounts (some local meter manufacturers inclusive), but later unfroze them after investigations,
“We hereby note that since the CBN and relevant government agencies have concluded their work, it would be in order to issue an official (letter of) clearance to the affected local meter manufacturers, so as to adequately update the esteemed media and the general public.
“Finally, while we call on the Federal Government to continue in its kind efforts of providing a conducive environment to help us contribute to its national objectives, we wish to state that we shall extend the same energy and spirit to the incoming administration of President-elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President-elect, His Excellency, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, who were sworn into office on May 29, 2023,” they affirmed.
