Agency task Nigerians to monitor prepaid metre installation

The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has urged Nigerians to ensure that all meters installed in their homes or in public places comply with the approved metering code.

Federation Director General and Chief Electrical Inspector Peter Ewesor gave the charge at a seminar hosted by the Civil Service Reform Bureau (BPSR) in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports that the theme of the seminar is “Roles, Responsibilities, Innovation and Challenges in the Electricity Sector”.

Ewesor maintained that the agency will continue to achieve its goal of ensuring the safety of life and property in the electricity supply industry in the country.

While ensuring a stable system, safe delivery and regular and reliable power supply, Ewesor however urged customers to reject meters that are not properly tested and certified by MEMSA.

“I think a lot needs to be conveyed to Nigerians, especially knowing their rights when it comes to counting. People should know that electricity meters have to measure the power supplied and consumed.

“Nigerians must first understand that any meter they bring to your premises, if you do not see the NEMSA label, then that meter has not been tested by NEMSA according to the law and, therefore, it is not meant to be installed or used.

“Nigerians can refuse to have such a meter installed for them because if they install a faulty meter you can end up paying what you haven’t consumed in terms of estimated billing.

“At the same time, we want Nigerians to learn how to manage their power supply. For example, you installed a meter in your house, you bought credit, but you are putting all your gadgets on instead of putting them off.

The director further said the federal government was distributing around six million meters which he said would be in phases.

He also assured that the distribution of meters would not end production.

For his part, the Director-General of the Bureau of Civil Service Reforms (BPSR), Mr Dasuki Arabi, instructed other agencies to connect with citizens by providing information on their activities.

“We celebrate the success of the Nigerian civil service reforms. You know that NEMSA is a subset of some of the agencies that have emerged as a result of power reforms in this country.

“What we heard today is that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We are well. We hope to reach the destination we want to go to.

“What we have advised the agency and other government agencies is to build relationships with citizens, to provide information about their activities. It’s the only way to understand what’s going on up there, ”he said. (NAN)