The Federal Government has released N12.7 billion for the mass metering of Nigerian Army formations nationwide.

The government said it would soon end the era of estimated billings in the power sector.

Speaking during the kick-off of the metering at the headquarters of the 9th Brigade of the Nigerian Army at the Ikeja Military Cantonment at the weekend, Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu said the exercise would be in phases with the Ikeja cantonment coming under the first phase.

The minister was received by the commander, Maj.-Gen. A. M. Adetuyi, and the Chief Executive Officer of De Haryor Global Services, Ashade Olatunbosun, who is in charge of the metering project.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, said the minister explained that the current metering would last six weeks before the beginning of the second phase.

Adelabu said the money released was part of the N40 billion for the current mass metering.

“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.

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The minister said the ongoing metering is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to ensure regular power supply 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,” he said.

According to him, the smart meters being installed are tamper-proof and made to eliminate energy theft.

“You cannot by-pass the meter, which also comes with an App where customers can also get the statement of their consumption on a monthly basis,” he said.

Adelabu also explained that the meters allow interconnectivity between grid and off-grid solar power supply.

The minister said a part of the current administration’s energy blueprint for the country is to build off-grid power sources, such as solar energy, for military barracks in remote areas where there is no grid supply.

“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 also said the metering project would be extended to all military formations across the country to provide 24-hour power supply to the barracks.

Also, Olatunbosun said the second phase of the project would begin simultaneously in Abuja and Enugu, adding that military formations under the 11 DisCos would benefit from the metering.

“Army formations in Jos, Abuja, Ibadan, Enugu, Kaduna, Ikeja, and Eko distribution companies will benefit from the exercise,” he said.

Maj.-Gen. Adetuyi said the Federal Government metering initiative was timely as the brigade headquarters had been having epileptic power supply over time.

“When I investigated, I found out that we were only being given three hours of electricity daily. On some days, we do not even get supplied. 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, though we would not have minded if power supply had been regular. However, this commendable metering project has gladdened our hearts,” he said.