News Investigators/ The Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayodeji Gbeleyi, says the bureau is collaborating among critical stakeholders in the power sector to bridge the metering gap estimated at 5.66 million meters across the country.
Mr Gbeleyi spoke on Wednesday evening in Abuja during a strategic meeting between the agency and Nigeria’s Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) on the implementation of free meter distribution and installation to electricity consumers.
According to him, the agency is synergising with the 11 DISCOs on intensification of free meter distribution and installation.
He also said that the collaborative meeting among critical stakeholders in the sector was for appraisal of the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) “which basically aims at bridging metering gap of 5.66 million.
”Under phase one of the programme being financed by 500 million-dollar financial facility offered by World Bank , 700, 000 meters were supplied out of which 200, 000 have been installed”.
He appealed to the DISCOs to ensure that strict implementation of the programme “is carried out by having all their customers metered in line with the policy direction and vision of the federal government.
”DISREP is a world bank-supported intervention designed to improve performance and financial sustainability of Nigeria’s Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs).
”Specifically , it focuses on closing the metering gap currently estimated at more than 5.3 million by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
“It is to ensure that the objectives of the federal government’s power sector reform for improved operational efficiency and financial viability are achieved before the end of the year”.
In their separate remarks, the representatives of the various DISCOs, assured Nigerians that they were in support of the intervention programme and would see to its success.
They, however expressed concern about meter installers who would allegedly extort customers, promising to expose anybody found wanting in that regard.
NAN