The absence of reliable power poses a significant obstacle to the country, resulting in an estimated annual economic loss of $26.2 billion due to poor electricity access.

To address this issue, the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria (AMMON) pleads with the government to reconsider its plans to use a $155 million World Bank loan for meter importation.

Instead, AMMON calls for the funds to be directed towards local industries, enabling them to bridge the 10 million meter gap within 18 months. By supporting domestic manufacturers, Nigeria can stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and alleviate the energy access deficit.

Ifeanyi Okeke, the treasurer of AMMON and CEO of Holley Metering Limited, expressed concerns about the proposed tender for bidding, scheduled for July 11. Okeke emphasized that this approach would contradict the government’s local content policy.

Speaking during discussions on the bidding process, Okeke highlighted that although contracts were awarded to 20 out of 40 local meter manufacturing companies in November of the previous year, production has not yet commenced. Despite the challenges, nearly 1 million meters were rolled out between December 2020 and June 2021.

AMMON believes that allocating the World Bank loan to local manufacturers would be more beneficial for the economy, leading to job creation and stimulating economic growth.

Okeke urged the government to halt the tender metering process, which is designed to support local factories and promote value addition. However, conflicting desires between the Ministry of Finance and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) have complicated the situation.

Engr. Durosola Omogbenigun, the Secretary General of AMMON, warned that proceeding with the bidding process would hinder the progress made in terms of local content policy, backward integration, and technology transfer.

Referring to the signing of Executive Order No. 5 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, Omogbenigun highlighted the importance of prioritizing local products over foreign brands in public organizations.

Omogbenigun emphasized the potential impact of directing the proposed $155 million World Bank loan toward local meter production. This investment would energize the industry, create jobs, generate wealth, and close the 10 million meter gap.

Urgent government intervention is necessary to prevent the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) from proceeding with tender openings. AMMON accused the TCN of failing to fulfill promises of support made to their members, undermining the progress of local manufacturers.

The issue of the energy access deficit in Nigeria requires immediate attention. By improving electricity infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, the country can unlock economic potential, provide essential services, and uplift communities from poverty.

AMMON’s plea for support to local industries aligns to promote and ensure manufacturing and ensuring sustainable economic development.

TechEconomy reported that the grid experienced partial system disturbance at about 10.51 am, Monday.

The Transmission Company said the incident was a result of the sudden drop in system frequency, which created system instability.

However, in a statement, the Company said the National Control Centre (NCC) initiated a full-scale investigation to establish and ascertain the cause of the partial disturbance as this unwholesome event has resulted in aggregated generation loss.

“The grid restoration is almost completed and the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) regrets any inconveniences caused as well as appreciates the kind understanding of customers of electricity within and outside the country.

“We are committed to leveraging the concerted interventions instituted so far to enhance power supply reliability so that the issue of system disturbance will soon become outdated.”

The restoration of the affected part of the grid commenced immediately at 11.55 am with Osogbo/Ihovbor back to the grid followed by Jebba/Osogbo, Kainji/Jebba, Benin/Onisha, Shiroro/Kaduna, Shiroro/Katampe, and Alaoji/Ikot-Ekpene. Others are Lokoja/Gwagwalada, Odukpani/Ikot Ekpene, Benin/Omotosh,o, Oke-Aro/Ikeja west, Egbin/Oke-Aro, and Kaduna/Kano.

Representatives of the firm said the technology, comprising the Internet of Things and the Virtual Private Network, was deployed by the government through TCN to monitor real-time grid operations and help mitigate power system collapse.

The facility, which would enhance real-time national grid operations while waiting for the deployment of a long-term network automation system, was also said to improve power grid management at the National Control Centre in Osogbo, Osun State.

TechEconomy understands that there have been numerous power grid collapses in Nigeria, leaving vast areas of the nation in the dark.

However, the TCN claimed on Wednesday that its new technology would increase grid monitoring, which would aid in managing it moving ahead.

According to Ndidi Mbah, General Manager of Public Affairs, “the deployment of the smart grid system is at an advanced stage of the procurement process for a robust deployment of a full-scale state-of-the-art Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition/Energy Management System.”

One of Africa’s few and largest transmission networks, TCN manages the country’s power grid with more than 20,000km of 330 and 132-kilovolt transmission lines.

Nigeria now has a proven 7,300 megawatts of energy wheeling capability at its high voltage substations, which are still growing.

TCN is reforming this transmission system as the Nigerian electrical market, which consists of the generation, transmission, and distribution businesses are ready to move beyond the transitional period it has been in for more than seven years and into a competitive market stage.