The Executive Secretary, Electricity Meters Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (EMMAN), Mr. Muideen Ibrahim, has said that the new Meter Assets Regulation (MAP) policy in the power sector would create massive employment opportunities for Nigerians.
Ibrahim, who stated this in a statement issued in Lagos, explained that it would also ensure the transfer of technology to Nigeria even as it will enhance Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) among others.
According to him, the implementation of the policy should be strictly enforced as it will enable local electricity meter manufacturers to be up and doing.
“The meter manufacturers would ensure production of meters to capacity, utilise their resources very well and adequately.
“Not only that, it will enable them to employ more Nigerians from the teeming unemployed in the country,’’ he said.
The EMMAN scribe commended the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for the timely passage of the Meter Asset Regulations (MAP).
He also expressed the association’s profound gratitude to Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing for his concern and commitment toward addressing the metering gap in the sector.
“This is indeed a step in the right direction and will no doubt bridge the metering gap soonest if the MAP regulations are well harnessed.
“We are indeed very grateful to NERC for the local content initiative as enshrined in the regulations.
“We implore NERC to ensure that the MAP regulations are strictly monitored for effective performance by all parties involved.
“Our candid advice is that all the parties involved in this new initiative should cooperate with one another,’’ Ibrahim urged
The statement also qouted the Commissioner, Legal, Licensing and Compliance of NERC, Mr Dafe Akpeneye, as explaining that the policy would now be responsible for providing meters to customers, among other functions.
Akpeneye said that the main objective of the regulations is to encourage the development of independent and competitive meter services in the electricity supply industry and eliminate estimated billing.
The MAP is expected to go into effect from April 3, 2018.
