The Nigerian Meter Manufacturers’ Association (AMMON) has abandoned its court battle against the Federal Government, allowing for the procurement of 1.55 million smart meters within ongoing power industry intervention programs.
This marks an end to several months of ambiguity that stalled several metering programs such as the Distribution Sector Recovery Program, Meter Acquisition Fund Phase III and the Presidential Metering Initiative.
According to the President of AMMON, Durosola Omogbenigun, the association has decided to drop the lawsuit after they were assured of more involvement of local meter manufacturers in the government programs.
He stated that the action was taken in the interest of national development, saying further that the government was determined to encourage domestic manufacturing, patronage of local manufacturers, and less dependency on importation of meters.
“We have created a joint working committee with the government to boost support to local manufacturers and backward integration strategy,” Omogbenigun said.
According to the Ministry of Power, AMMON formally withdrew its case by filing a Notice of Discontinuance at the Federal High Court, Kano.
The Ministry stated that the resolution was after consultations with the Federal Government, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Transmission Company of Nigeria, and others.
AMNON had earlier contested the bidding procedure, stating that it was biased in favor of imported meters even though there were capable companies in Nigeria.
The resolution will enable the government to resume the smart meter bidding process, which seeks to decrease estimated billing and enhance revenue collection from electricity.
