Billions at Stake as Local Manufacturers Challenge Foreign Dominance in Meter Rollout

Billions at Stake as Local Manufacturers Challenge Foreign Dominance in Meter Rollout

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

A major confrontation is brewing in Nigeria’s electricity sector as indigenous meter manufacturers have drawn a battle line against a World Bank-backed procurement framework, warning that the country’s ambitious metering programme could become a missed opportunity for industrial growth, job creation and economic self-reliance.

The Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria (AMMON) has refused to lift a court injunction stalling aspects of the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) unless the federal government provides legally enforceable guarantees that Nigerian firms will secure a significant share of the contracts.

At the heart of the dispute is the procurement process under DISREP ICB 2, a key intervention designed to tackle Nigeria’s huge electricity metering deficit.