Adelabu advocates import substitution strategy to bridge meter deficits

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has called for increased support for local meter manufacturing industries to promote import substitution and strengthen Nigeria’s power sector.

Adelabu, who stated this during a courtesy visit and inspection of the CWG Metering Facility in Lagos, at the weekend, stressed the need of patronising locally-produced meters in closing the gap.

The minister, while stressing that the metering penetration in Nigeria is less than 50 per cent, emphasised that having estimated billing that is not transparent or objective is counter-productive.

Adelabu said that the quality of metering is easy to bypass, hence, the need for smart metering and Meter Data Management System (MDMS) facility that would enable producers monitor the systems.

According to him, there are lots of saboteurs and entities that are constantly frustrating efforts to stabilise the industry. He stressed the need to ensure that an integration plan is in place where foreign experts in the sector begin to engage in training locals.

Adelabu said that energy is the major driver of critical sectors in the economy as it creates unlimited opportunities, while buttressing that the mandate of the ministry is to formulate appropriate policies and establish institutions to ensure stable, functional and reliable electricity for institutions, households, businesses and industries across Nigeria.

Chief Operating Officer (COO), CWG, Afolabi Sobande, called for a reduction in the demand for forex by the government and also providing enabling environment for local meter manufacturers.

He also urged the ministry to collaborate with the local manufacturers to address metering gap, lead the drive to close the skills deficiency/ gaps through indigenous capacity-building and support technology investment to reduce the Aggregated Technical Commercial and Collection (ATC & C) losses of the Discos.

Sobande noted that the visit underscores the critical role CWG is playing in addressing the gap and revolutionising Nigeria’s energy sector through innovative smart metering solutions.