MEMMCOL tasks FG to encourage local meter manufacturers

Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited, one of the  indigenous manufacturers of electricity meters has urged the Federal Government to encourage the local manufacturers by ensuring that the Distribution Companies (Discos) patronize them.

Speaking during an official visit of the House of Representatives Committee on Power to the multi-million naira factory located along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Chairman of the Company,  Kola Balogun noted in a statemen that the meters manufactured by MEMMCOL are of the best global standard and quality.

Kola Balogun explained that the local manufacturers need patronage by the owners of the Discos to protect the huge investment made into the economy, generate more employment for job seekers and develop capacity and reduce capital flight to the barest minimum.

He noted that the issue of the huge metering gap in the nation’s power sector which is currently under reform by the Federal Government can be addressed by encouraging the local meter manufacturers. He announced that MEMMCOL when operating in full capacity can produce a minimum of 100,000 meters per month.

‘’We are aware of the local content act, but our concern is how the act is been driven and monitored to ensure compliance especially in the power sector. There is the need for the House of Representatives Committee on Power to drive and enforce the act in the power sector’’ he posited.

In his response, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Power, Patrick Ikhariale who led his team on the visit to the factory noted that the Nigerian Local Content Act as passed to law by the National Assembly is not only for the extractive industries but also for other sectors of local manufacturing and production, including the power sector.

 Ikhariale then promised to ensure that the National Assembly will do everything within its powers to protect local manufacturers by ensuring that the DISCOS patronize them in line with the local content act.

“With this huge investment that a company like MEMMCOL has made in this very important power sector, there is no reason why the DISCOS would have to go outside the country to import electricity meters in as much as your products meet requisite specifications and quality standard” he added.

Daniel Obi