Peter Uzoho
Members of the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria (AMMON) have called on the federal government to address challenges posed by the fluctuations in foreign exchange (FX) which they said were hampering availability of meters in the power sector.
The association also expressed its appreciation of the recent establishment of the Presidential Committee on Mass Metering, under the leadership of the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, describing it as a bold step towards addressing the pressing challenges in the metering sector.
In its statement obtained by THISDAY, yesterday, AMMON said it was looking forward to collaborating with the presidential committee, maintaining that the foreign exchange fluctuations have impacted negatively on the operations in the sector.
The statement read: “AMMON has expressed her concern over the challenges posed by foreign exchange fluctuations as it impacts the continuous supply of electricity meters to the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
“As the demand for meters continues to grow, the association emphasises the urgent need for regulatory measures to address the issue of a fixed meter price when all input costs are affected by increasing inflation and foreign exchange movements. This attention is urgently required to ensure the seamless provision of meters across the nation.
“This strategic move would not only facilitate the sustainability of the meter manufacturing industry but also ensure that end-users have access to reliable and affordable electricity meters.
“As such, AMMON calls on regulatory authorities to consider the liberalisation of meter prices, allowing manufacturers to adapt to market dynamics and maintain a steady supply of meters.”
The group warned that if urgent action was not taken, there would be a critical shortage of meters available for installation within the next 14 days.
It further warned that the impact of delayed intervention could exacerbate the existing challenges faced by the NESI and hinder the progress being made towards achieving widespread access to electricity meters.
Furthermore, AMMON called on the regulatory authorities and stakeholders to urgently prioritise and expedite measures to address the impending shortage occasioned by a three-month supply chain gap by their estimates.
“If this action is taken, it will ensure the continued and uninterrupted supply of meters to meet the nation’s growing demand for reliable electricity services barring the short gap already realised,” the association assured.
AMMON also advocated for a collaboration between the regulatory bodies and the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) to develop cost-effective meter specifications tailored to NESI requirements.
By working closely with NEMSA, the association said it believed that that could contribute to the development of standards that promote affordability without compromising quality and reliability.
The statement noted: “AMMON remains committed to supporting the nation’s power sector and believes that these proposed measures will contribute to a more robust and resilient electricity metering ecosystem.
“AMMON looks forward to engaging with relevant stakeholders to implement these recommendations and address the challenges currently faced by the meter manufacturing industry in Nigeria.”
