The Federal Government has announced plans to import 1.3 million meters as part of a broader strategy to end estimated billing in the country which it described as fraudulent.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who disclosed this on Tuesday during the ongoing Nigeria Energy Summit in Lagos, said the metering gap is a big elephant that demands the collective efforts of Nigerians to tackle.

The Minister questioned the transparency of estimated billing and declared it unacceptable.

Minister Adelabu reaffirmed the role of the newly launched presidential metering initiative in addressing the metering gap.

He confirmed that through the initiative with support from the World Bank, a total of 1.3 million meters have been procured and paid for.

According to him, delivery of these meters will be in batches with the first to be delivered in December.

“We have over 13 million customers, but just a little over 5 million are. Where is it done that over seven million customers will rely on estimated billing? It is fraudulent, it is not transparent, and it can never be acceptable in a sane country. But we cannot close this gap in one year.

“We are talking of over seven million meters to be imported, to be produced locally. The meter gap is a big elephant we must all join hands to fight and bring down.

“To address this, we launched the presidential metering initiative together with the Nigeria Governors Forum, and state governments are now part of this, supported by the World Bank Distribution Sector Reform Programme aimed to disburse 3.2 million meters, out of which I can confirm to you authoritatively that 1.3 million meters have been procured, contract signed and the payment made.

“We are expecting the first set of the meters to be delivered by December 2024, and the balance will be delivered by the second quarter of next year.

“And you will see the readiness of Nigerians to pay if you can display transparency and fairness in your billing. They are ready to pay. They know that the alternative sources are far more expensive, even apart from the societal environmental pollution of noise,” he noted.

Furthermore, Adelabu noted that the government is fully committed to implementing the integrated national electricity policy.

According to him, “As we look into the future, our focus remains on fully implementing the integrated national electricity policy. I will want you to get a copy of this policy. It’s available as a soft copy; we have sent it to all the major stakeholders in the industry. Please go through it.

“You can read through the executive summary for you to even know the content of this policy. It covers so many things, including local content, competency, and human capacity development in the industry, which is lacking.

“We don’t have enough pool of resources for what we are envisaging for this sector, but we must start building it from today. It covers everything, and when you add areas you want to put our attention to, please, let us do this within the next four weeks before we go to the Federal Executive Council.

“Once it is approved, it will be tough for us to make changes. It will be our guide to further transform the sector. So, with the 2023 Electricity Act, providing the ledger framework and the regulator setting the strategic direction, Nigeria is well-positioned to overcome the challenges that have historically plagued the electricity sector.”

“The next steps will involve continued investment in infrastructure upgrades, capacity building of local stakeholders, and strengthening regulatory enforcement to ensure that the gains we have made are positively sustained,” he concluded.

The Federal Government has announced plans to unveil a 15 million-litre aviation fuel depot in Lagos State on October 17, 2024.

This announcement was made by the Group Managing Director of Masters Energy and Chairperson of the JUHI-2 Board, Mrs. Patience Dappa, via a statement on Thursday.

Dappa revealed that the Joint User Hydrant Installation 2 (JUHI-2), which she described as the largest airside jet fuel depot in Nigeria, will mark a significant transformation for the nation’s aviation sector.

She disclosed that the facility will be located near Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and will serve as a storage and supply hub for the airport and other nearby airbases.

Dappa stated, “The Nigerian aviation industry is poised for a significant transformation with the upcoming commissioning of the Joint User Hydrant Installation 2, the country’s largest airside jet fuel depot. The facility will officially open on October 17, 2024, at the JUHI-2 Facility located off the Murtala Muhammed International Airport road, Lagos.

“The depot will serve as a crucial storage and supply hub for jet fuel, ensuring a steady fuel supply to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMA2, MMA1, and nearby airbases.”

Meanwhile, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Eterna Plc and Chairman of the JUHI-2 Commissioning Committee, Abiola Lawal, described the facility as a state-of-the-art depot, adding that it will meet fuel demands and enhance aviation operations in the country.

Lawal revealed that the depot will be unveiled by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.

According to him, “This state-of-the-art depot will significantly enhance aviation operations, meeting the fuel demands of a wide range of flight activities.

“The commissioning event will be attended by key stakeholders from the aviation and energy sectors and will be officially presided over by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.

“JUHI-2 is a joint venture between Eterna Plc, Masters Energy, Techno Oil, Quest Oil, Rahamaniyya, Ibafon Oil, and First Deep Water Limited.

The facility spans 46,000 square meters and boasts a storage capacity of 15 million litres of Jet A1 fuel.

“Its cutting-edge design includes the latest filtration systems, the ability to load four bowsers simultaneously, a jet fuel discharge system with four dedicated trucks, a modern laboratory, and state-of-the-art fire prevention measures. The depot’s advanced operational support facilities position it as the best of its kind in Nigeria.”

The Federal Government has said all petroleum marketers can now negotiate and buy products directly from the Dangote Refinery, Lagos.

A statement by the Ministry of Finance indicated that the decision to allow oil marketers to deal directly with the refinery firm was reached at a meeting of the technical committee headed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun.

The meeting was held in Abuja on Friday.

The leeway given by the Federal Government has ended the arrangement in which the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) was acting as the sole off-taker of the Dangote Refinery products.

Edun said its decision followed the directive of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the implementation of the new Naira-based sales mechanism, adding that the Implementation Committee on the Sales of Crude Oil and Refined Products in Naira, of which he chaired held its second review meeting on Wednesday, October 10, 2024.

He said the meeting focused on assessing the transition towards a deregulated market structure for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and addressing the change in the purchasing model for petroleum product marketers.

Giving key update on New Direct Purchase Model, the minister said the most significant change under the new regime is that petroleum product marketers can now purchase PMS directly from local refineries, saying that this marks a departure from the previous arrangement where the NNPCL served as the sole purchaser and distributor of PMS from the refineries.

According to him, “This direct purchasing mechanism allows marketers to negotiate commercial terms directly with the refineries, fostering a more competitive market environment and enabling a smoother supply chain for petroleum products.

“Local Production of PMS: With the commencement of local PMS production, the market is better equipped to support these direct transactions. This transition is expected to enhance efficiency in product availability and stabilize market conditions for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

Edun stated that the committee recognizes that there are questions and discussions regarding this change in the market structure, adding, “We are committed to providing clarity on this development and will continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition process the Minister informed.”

He described the direct purchase of PMS by petroleum product marketers as a new era of growth and development for Nigeria’s petroleum industry and reassured stakeholders that the Committee will continue to provide clarity and engage with stakeholders to ensure the success of this new regime.”