FG decries influx of fake prepaid meters, others at launch of NEMSA equipment
Inter-agency disquiet is brewing between the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and all port-resident federal agencies’ in charge of surveillance against importation of goods.
This stemmed from Federal Government’s discovery that substandard power equipment like transformers and meters were being imported into Nigeria despite the presence of regulators at the ports.
The ministry has therefore called for an increased presence of sector-specific regulators to help check the inflow of fake electrical equipment in order to save lives and property, as well as improve the output from the nation’s power sector.
Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Shehuri, who spoke at the official presentation of the conditions of service of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency and the inauguration of Nigerian Electricity Services Agency (NEMSA)’s security surveillance equipment, said “Today, if you see the quality of the products we use, either as electrical appliances in our homes or others, they are far below standard”.
“We are not only talking of meters, but we are also talking of transformers that are used by Discos, as well as transformers used by the TCN (Transmission Company of Nigeria) in the transmission sector.
“So, I see a situation where NEMSA ought to have an office at the ports to help reduce the inflow of such substandard equipment.”
Explaining more on security surveillance equipment, Shehuri noted that the facility would enable the agency’s management at the headquarters to monitor in real-time the day-to-day operations and activities in its three national meter test stations located in Lagos, Kaduna and Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Still on the challenge of substandard electrical equipment, the Managing Director, NEMSA, Peter Ewesor, linked influx of fake electrical products and prepaid meters as worst disservice to Nigeria’s match to steady power.
