Government Set To Distribute Two Million Prepaid Meters
Our heritage reporter gathered that the federal government has announced plans to purchase and distribute two million prepaid meters to Nigerians before the end of the first quarter of 2025.
The initiative is part of broader measures to address issues surrounding estimated billing in the country.
Expressing its disapproval of the estimated billing practice by Distribution Companies (Discos), the government revealed that the distribution of these two million meters is part of a larger plan to provide ten million prepaid meters nationwide over the next five years.
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this during a sideline interview at the recent commissioning of the Mobile Power Substations in Oyo and Ogun states.
He emphasized that President Bola Tinubu is committed to ensuring an uninterrupted power supply across the country, but this goal requires the cooperation of consumers.
Adelabu said: “An Estimated Billing System is ripping off consumers; hence the reason the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Power, is purchasing ten million prepaid meters to be distributed across the country.
“Out of these figures, two million prepaid meters will be distributed before the end of the first quarter of 2025.
“While the Federal Government is doing everything to make the country habitable for the people, customers should desist from their notion of bypassing connections.
“Also, people should refrain from vandalising and stealing electricity cables. The government, aside from spending fortunes to replace stolen equipment, is also affecting power supply nationwide.”
On the rising cost of power supply, the Minister argued that it is not peculiar to Nigeria alone but assured the people that the government is doing everything to ease the burden through renewable energy.
“The Renewable Energy initiative of the Federal Government aims to alleviate the burden of the rising cost of energy.
“The rising cost of energy is taking a toll not only on households but also on our institutions of learning.
“The government has concluded a plan to deploy an Alternative Renewable Energy Grid and Solar Energy Grid to universities, teaching hospitals, and research institutes nationwide,” he added.
