1 month ago
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The Association for Public Policy Analysis of the Electricity Consumers Protection and Advocacy Centre has called on the House of Representatives to conclude its investigation on the disbursement of the N200bn allocated for the National Mass Metering Programme by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2020.
The consumer advocacy group recalled that the House of Representatives had mandated its Committee on Banking Regulations and Power in 2020 to investigate a case of discrepancies, mismanagement, and non-compliance with the terms and conditions of the loans disbursed under the programme.
In a statement made available to The PUNCH by the association’s National President, Princewill Okorie, the advocacy group spoke out following the failure of some power distribution companies to meter their customers even after many had paid for the asset.
“Our research has revealed that a seed capital of N200bn was invested to facilitate the programme, which was to be implemented in three phases, with the sum of N59.280bn set aside for the pilot phase to provide one million meters.
“As an association, we are constrained to call on the House of Representatives Committee on Banking Regulations not to fail Nigeria electricity consumers who are expecting that the outcome of the investigation shall address the challenges of metering in the electricity sector,” the statement read partly.
Okorie said consumers were concerned that rather than address Nigerians on the status of the National Mass Metering Programme, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed that the Federal Government had procured 1.8 million meters to curb estimated billing without throwing light on the metering policies introduced before his appointment.
Okorie added that in 2018, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission introduced the Meter Assets Provider, which stated that electricity consumers should pay for meters and recover the funds through energy credit from the Discos.
“How many meters were paid for and installed for electricity consumers under the MAP from 2018 before NMMP in 2020? There is a need for evidence on consumers who received meters under the NMMP scheme in Disco franchise areas for transparency and accountability.
“There is a difference of over N3bn between the total allocated funds and drawdown. There is a need to find out the reason for the very low repayment of N7bn from 2020 to 2024 for a loan of over N59bn given to Discos,” he added.
The group requested that the NERC be invited to explain the extent of implementation of the Meter Assets Provider programme.
It also wanted the NERC to explain the criteria for approving the allocation of NMMP loan to the Discos; the strategy for disbursement, procurement and installation of meters put in place to enhance the successful execution of the NMMP; the evidence of distribution and installation of NMMP meters to consumer households; and how NERC intended to address the low repayment level of the loan, considering interest challenges.
“The fund administrator, Meristerm Wealth Management Ltd, should be invited to throw light on the disbursement.
“The final issue is the need to find out the status of the NMMP loan for which N200bn was to be provided in phases. Since 2020 when the pilot phase commenced, nothing has been heard about the NMMP again. Has it ended at the pilot phase? Was the N200bn kept aside by CBN? What is happening to the fund and NMMP?” he asked.
