Why I visit power projects sites, by minister

Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, has explained that his constant visits to project sites and other power sector facilities around the country was meant to acquaint himself with the projects and verify issues.

Speaking yesterday through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Aaron Atimas, the minister said that while there was urgent need to reform and invigorate the power sector, he could only speak to Nigerians when he was sure of the facts, so that the people would have confidence in the system.

He said the recent facility tour to Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited (MEMMCOL), an indigenous meter manufacturer in Lagos State, was aimed at seeing for himself the capacity of the local meter manufacturers to meet their 30 per cent quota of metering Nigerians.

According to him, the major trauma of electricity consumers in the country was the problem of meters and the attendant issues of estimated billings.

“When he assumed duties as the Minister of Power, there was no active or subsisting effort of providing meters. He was therefore shocked by the dubious allegations in some quarters that the meter project was failing under his watch,” Atima added.

The minister, he said, had vowed to ensure that Nigerians were adequately and appropriately provided with meters for justice and fairness instead of taxing them to pay far above their actual consumption.He expressed satisfaction with MEMMCOL’s meter production capacity, assuring that the ministry would support every endeavour to massively provide meters to Nigerians. The minister made it clear that there is enough room for other investors to partake in the metering project, including the importation of standardised meters for sale to the people, the aide stated..