The Electricity Meters Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (EMMAN), has appealed to the Federal Government to float a special intervention fund that would be accessible to its members at two per cent interest rate.
The executive secretary of the association, Mr Muyideen Ibrahim,made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday.
He said that government should create two special intervention funds in form of soft loan to local electricity meter manufacturers.
According to him, this will promote the sale of locally produced meters to the distribution companies at very competitive price.
“Government should also prevail on all the distribution companies to patronise locally produced electricity meters in order to create more jobs for Nigerians,” he said.
Ibrahim advised government to give unwavering support and encouragement to local manufacturers like their Chinese counterparts.
He also urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to step up its oversight functions and responsibilities effectively.
Government should mandate all the local meter manufacturers to roll out at least 200,000 units of meters monthly in compliance with the Local Content Act on Power Sector.
This will keep the factories running and more Nigerians will be gainfully employed,’’ he said.
He said that embargo should be placed on the importation of meters in order to encourage indigenous meter manufacturers.
He urged NERC to liberalise the metering arm of the power sector and to allow consumers and vendors to buy meters directly from indigenous meter manufacturers. (NAN)