Fashola Tasks DISCOs To Patronise Local Meter Manufacturers

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has urged Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to patronise local meter manufacturing companies in the country.

Fashola noted while flagging off mass distribution of pre-paid meters at Kabuga business unit of Kano Electricity Distribution Company KEDCO in Kano. He explained that such patronage was necessary to encourage the production of meters by the local manufacturing companies in the country and preserve scarce foreign exchange.

“Patronising the local meter manufacturing companies is the way to diversify and save foreign exchange,” he said.

According to him, government would be distributing about 115,000 pre-paid meters across the nation this year alone while also expressing the commitment of government to ensure adequate power supply in the country soon next.

He guaranteed that the implementation of the nationwide metering system would open windows of opportunities of job creation to teeming unemployed youths.

The minister commended KEDCO’s effort for fulfilling the mandate of providing meters to customers and involving their customers in the distribution. He also used the occasion to challenging other distribution companies to toe the line of KEDCO.

 “We want to urge Nigerians not to panic over the current power situation in the country because the federal government is working day and night to overcome the power challenges facing the country,” he said.

The Managing Director of KEDCO, Alhaji Jamilu Gwamna, said the company had purchased more than 63, 000 meters to be distributed to its customers.

Gwamma stated that the inauguration of the scheme would go a long way in checking the issue of crazy bills, in addition to ensuring effective service delivery.