Nigerians, especially those who want to procure electricity meter have been warned not to pay a dime to anybody as the meters are free.
Mr Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power issued the warning yesterday in Lagos while inspecting newly imported smart meters at Apapa port.
He also said that Disco officials and installers who are in the habit of extorting customers shall be persecuted.
He disclosed that the meters were procured under the World Bank-funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme, adding the meters must be installed for customers free.
The Minister said it was an offence for anybody to demand for money for the installation of meters.
Said the Minister : ‘I want to mention that it is unprecedented that these meters are to be installed and distributed to customers free of charge – free of charge! Nobody should collect money from any consumer. It is an illegality. It is an offence for the officials of distribution companies across Nigeria to request a dime before installation; even the indirect installers cannot ask consumers for a dime.’
The Pond News, however ,understands that in Asaba, the Delta State capital, consumers pay as much as two hundred thousand and five hundred Naira to get the meter.
Even more outlandish is that customers buy transformers to be installed in their community.
