Electricity Supply: FG assures of effective metering, service delivery

LAGOS, Nigeria – In ensuring effective and efficient electricity supply to Nigerians across the country, the Minister of State for Labour, Mr Festus Keyamo has assured  that the Federal Government will ensure that all issues surrounding  implementation  of cost reflective tariff in the sector are addressed timely.

Kayamo said this when he  led the Ad-hoc Committee on electricity tariff to a facility  tour to the leading meter manufacturing Company in Nigeria, MOMAS in Mowe, Ogun State.

The team which comprised of NLC, TUC, DisCos and captains of industry commended the giant stride  made by MOMAS Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company (MEMMCOL) in growing the power sector through modern technology to enhance effective and efficient development in the power sector.

The minister promised to engage with all stakeholders in the country,  until all contending issues surrounding power industry are resolved. The committee who inspected MOMAS factory were overwhelmed with the level of technology enhancement model in the factory which can improve the sector effectively.

According to Kayamo, the  team is making a facility  tour to MOMAS to have first hand information on the company’s capacity and capability in bridging the metering gaps.

“We are focusing in addressing all the issues surrounding implementation of cost reflective tariff in the power sector. MOMAS has the capacity of metering the entire country if given the support.  The company can also meet national expectations on metering. With what we saw here today, we are convinced that MOMAS has what it takes to drive the sector to better ends,” Keyamo said

Chris Okonkwo,President, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), commended  MOMAS for its immense contribution to the downstream power sector especially in helping to bridge the metering gap.

Okonkwo  said the committee was impressed with  the level of technology facility and training programme engaged by Momas in the Metering School. Joe Ajaero, President, the United Labour Congress (ULC), commended the innovative and futuristic foresight of MEMMCOL in setting up the metering school which would provide a pool of well trained professionals for the metering sub-Sector of the power sector.

Ajaero, however,  lauded  the company’s massive employment in the downstream power sector, while assuring the committee support foe the company.

In his remarks,  Chairman,  MOMAS, Engr. Kola Balogun, lauded federal government delegations for deeming it fit to inspect MOMAS metering factory and training school to see the powerful investment done in the company.  Balogun, however,  reaffirmed the company’s capacity and capability to bridge the metering gaps in the country,  adding  that the company also has capacity to deploy massive meter across the country.

“We have being advised by the delegation on what we needed to put right in the metring code to suit both purposes of DisCos and also to meet consumer’s need. We have the capacity to address metering supply locally. We have also developed mix grid methodology that will address sub stations system challenges.

“We can design and also have  lots of customizations  that was built with DisCos and consumers specifications which are sustainable. Our 25- years anniversary celebration is qentails with ups and downs,  but today, we are grateful to God for his  sustainability and supporting us to tell our story positively,” he said.

Balogun advised on the need for government  and stakeholders in the country to empower our teeming youths in capacity  building and  remodel to  take them  out of the streets. He said that MOMAS has demonstrated capacity and capability to  prove to the world that Nigeria indigenous companies have  the capacity to transform the power sector against the perception cannot do it right.

“We have being able to  transform technically to build capacity and capability back home”, he said. The MOMAS helmsman commended Federal government’s directive to roll out 6 million meters in the country to bridge metering challenges, while urging State Government amd other stakeholders to support in building capacity through sending young graduates to training in installation and maintenance of meters for them to fit into the ongoing schemes.