The Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria, AMMON, has formally withdrawn a court case against the Federal Government, to stop the procurement process for phase two of the national mass metering programme (NMMP).
This decision was taken after an intervention of the Hon. Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu at a stakeholder meeting held at the Federal Ministry of Power on Wednesday.
At the meeting, meter manufacturers and other stakeholders tabled their concerns before the Minister.
In attendance at the stakeholders’ meeting were the Chairman, NERC, represented by Mr. Nathan Shatti, Commissioner, Finance and Administration, Dr. Alex Okoh. the Director General, BPE, the Managing Director of the TCN, and other directors in the Federal Ministry of Power.
The Minister of Power, Adelabu restated the Federal Government’s determination to ensure that Nigeria becomes self sufficient in local meter manufacturing and production to close the huge metering gap of over 8million meters.
Recall that, the world bank is funding only 1.2million meters.
The Minister promised that local manufacturers will be accommodated in the procurement process for the World bank funded NMMP phase 2 through a national competitive bid.
He said the government will also work with the local meter manufacturers to implement other metering initiatives to address the huge metering gap in the power sector.
“Though this is a painful decision for the members of the association, the decision to discontinue the court case stopping the procurement process was done in national Interest and because of liquidity challenges of the Power sector”, the President of the Association, Engr Ademola Agoro said.
“We therefore seek the support of all stakeholders to work with the association to develop Metering sector and the Backward Integration Program of the FG”, he added.