Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Federal Government has released the sum of N12.7 billion for the mass metering project in army formations out of a total of N40 billion earmarked for mass metering project nationwide.
“The mass metering in army formations nationwide will enable us know what is being consumed on a monthly basis in order to ensure appropriate billings and ease collections. The overall intention is to eliminate and make estimated billing a thing of the past”he said.
Speaking during the flag-off of the metering exercise at the headquarters of the 9th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ikeja military cantonment at the weekend , Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu said that the exercise would be in phases with the Ikeja cantonment being the first phase of the exercise.
He said the current exercise would last for six weeks before the second phase begins.
The minister who was received at the army headquarters by the Commander, Major General A.M Adetuyi and the Chief Executive Officer of De Haryor Global Services, Engineer Ashade Olatunbosun who is in charge of the metering project said the current exercise is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to ensure regular supply of electricity to army formations, nationwide.
“This is one of Mr. President’s objectives as contained in the Renewed Hope Agenda to ensure that electricity supply to the armed forces is prioritised and they do not suffer especially in the enjoyment of public utilities” Adelabu noted
In a statement, Adelabu said the smart meters being installed are tamper-proof and would eliminate energy theft.
“You cannot by-pass the meter which also comes with an app where customers can also get statement of their consumption on a monthly basis” he said
He revealed further that the meter allows interconnectivity between grid and off grid solar power supply.
The Minister said that part of the energy blueprint for the country is also to build off-grid power sources such as solar energy for military barracks located in remote areas without grid supply.
“And where we have grid supply, we can interchange between the grid and solar supply if we are not satisfied with the number of hours supplied by the Distribution Companies (DisCos). Beyond metering, we have to prioritise electricity supply to the barracks”, he said.
Adelabu said the metering project would be extended to all military formations in the country with the objective of providing 24 hours power supply to the barracks.
But Olatunbosu said the second phase of the project will begin in Abuja and Enugu, simultaneously adding that military formations across the 11 DisCos will benefit from the exercise.
“Army formations in Jos, Abuja, Ibadan, Enugu, Kaduna, Ikeja and Eko distribution companies will benefit from the exercise”he said.
Earlier, Adetuyi said the federal government metering initiative is timely as the brigade headquarters has been having epileptic power supply over time.
“When I investigated, I found out that we were only being given three hours of electricity daily and some days, we do not even get supplies.
“We have tried to resolve this and we have even involved the state government without any result. We also discovered that we were always being given estimated bills. We would not have minded if power supply had been regular. However, this commendable metering project has gladdened our heart” he stated..
ENDS