Electricity: FG approves one year waiver of import levy on meters

William Ukpe

5 years ago

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President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a one-year waiver of import levy on electricity meters to help improve Nigeria’s electricity meter deficit.

This was announced by the Federal Government in a social media statement.

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ELECTRICITY SECTOR: In line with the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting reforms in the electricity industry, and the implementation of @NERCNG’s Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme, President @MBuhari has approved a one year waiver of Import Levy on electricity meters.

— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) August 25, 2020

The media aide to the presidency, Tolu Ogunlesi, announced that the import levy is a big deal in Nigeria’s electricity industry, citing the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) Regulation of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in 2018.

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This right here: A big deal. @NERCNG issued a Meter Asset Provider(MAP) Regulation in 2018 (including targets for DisCos) & has also, at the beginning of 2020, issued an Order capping how much DisCos can charge unmetered consumers—as part of efforts to tackle ‘estimated’ billing. https://t.co/fy53HMv9zw

— Tolu Ogunlesi, MON (@toluogunlesi) August 25, 2020

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Ogunlesi added that NERC also ordered a cap on how much DisCos can charge unmetered consumers, as part of efforts to tackle ‘estimated’ billing.

The Presidency said the new regulations would be in line with its commitment to support Nigeria’s electricity reforms and the NERC’s Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme. In 2020, Nigeria’s electricity metering deficit rose to 6.75 million, from 4.5 million in 2015.

Nairametrics reported last month that DisCos operating in Nigeria were seeking funding from CBN to support the roll-out of meters nationwide.

Mr. Sunday Oduntan, the Executive Director in charge of research and advocacy at the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), said the funding would help ensure that all electricity customers were adequately metered under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) regulation.