The Federal Government in collaboration with Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) on Friday started giving out free 100,000 meters to Lagosians under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).
The flag off and distribution was led by Adeoye Fadeyibi, Managing Director, EKEDC, in Orile/Ijora Districts, Surulere area of Lagos State.
The Federal Government is looking forward to bridging the metering gap in the country which stands at 59.6 per cent with the installment of free single and three phases to 100, 000 EKEDC customers in the first phase of the NMMP initiated by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Fadeyibi said the programme was being supported by the Lagos State Government and meter manufacturers, Mojec Asset Management Company Limited and Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited.
Fadeyibi said : “The mass metering programme is a welcome development and a boost to the deepening of the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
“The programme couldn’t have come at a better time than now given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and household income.
“We are happy for the initiative and acknowledge government’s renewed desire to improve the power supply and bridge the metering gap.
“Electricity as we all know is an important essential need of any society and we all have acknowledged the menace of the estimated billing both on the customers and even us as a business.
“It is my belief that with this mass metering initiative we can begin to say we are on a path to better days ahead.
“In the next 18 to 24 months, over six million meters will be distributed across households in the country and for us at Eko, we will be rolling out over 100,000 meters in the next few weeks in the first phase of the programme.’’
He said that all hands must be on deck to support the industry in stamping out energy theft through meter tampering and free riders.
Fadeyibi said the EKEDC would continue to strive to render better services to customers under its operational network and solicited for their support in actualising the objective.