The Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria (AMMON),has said that local meter manufacturers have installed 2.6 million meters and 850,000 National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) meters between 2020 and 2024.
Engr. Durosola Omogbenigun,President of AMMON, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
It stated: “The contribution made by local meter manufacturers, especially from 2021 to 2024 was achieved at the cost of N353.7 billion (at today’s price for single and three phase meters and excluding CBN funded NMMP Project of 850,000 meters). This amount was financed by LMMA/MAPs locally.”
It highlighted that there are 42 local meter manufacturers in Nigeria, with a combined installed capacity of 6 million meters per annum, employing 10,000 workers directly and 30,000 indirectly.
The group expressed concerns about contracts with Chinese firms, citing slow delivery and high costs. They urged the government to prioritize local manufacturing to stimulate industrial growth and job creation.
It stated: “Recently TCN/ PMU the department in the Transmission Company of Nigeria signed contract with two Chinese companies to supply 1.25 million meters at the whooping cost of over 100 million USD using Loans from the World Bank.
“Before the execution of this procurement process, we advised the FGN then in the last administration to allow local meter manufacturers to participate in this transaction and we had cogent reasons but we’re denied the opportunity.
“Since commencement of this transaction only 75,000 meters out of 1.25 million meters have been delivered by these Chinese companies. Those meters are still uninstalled defeating the aim of resolving the liquidity crisis which we, AMMON, are doing daily with no incentive or assistance from any quarters apart from our belief in our nation.”
“Despite the dismal failure of the first foreign procurement, TCN is going ahead with another World Bank procurement of 1.55 million meters which will contribute in no small measure in killing local manufacturing.”
AMMON urged the government to fully operationalize the “Nigeria First Policy” in the structuring Nigeria Distribution Sector Recovery Program, DISREP II and Presidential Metering Initiative, PMI, adopting National Competitive Bidding (NCB) as the default mechanism to ensure local content inclusion.
This, the association argued, will prevent capital flight, stimulate job creation, and accelerate backward integration.
According to AMMON, “Nigeria’s metering industry is a cornerstone of national development, and with the right policy support, it can graduate from early-stage manufacturing to full manufacturing, thereby positioning Nigeria as a regional export hub under AfCFTA.
It added:“Mr. President, your leadership inspires confidence and renews hope in Nigeria’s industrial future. We pledge our full cooperation and continued dedication to the success of your administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
