House of Reps Committee Calls for End to Meter Import Waivers, Pushes for Local Production

Lawmakers Advocate Special Tariffs to Boost Nigerian Meter Industry

The House of Representatives Committee on Power has called on the Federal Government to impose special tariffs and remove waivers granted for the importation of electricity meters into Nigeria. The committee believes that such measures will strengthen local production, create employment opportunities, boost the economy, and preserve the value of the Naira.

Chairman of the House Committee on Power, Victor Nwokolo, made this statement during a committee visit to Metering Solutions Manufacturing Services Limited (MSMSL) in Akwa Ibom State. The company, which has an annual production capacity of 3.6 million meters, was highlighted as a key player capable of bridging Nigeria’s metering gap if given the necessary support.

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Supporting Local Manufacturers for Economic Growth

During the visit, Nwokolo expressed satisfaction with the quality of meters produced by MSMSL and urged the government to promote indigenous meter manufacturing while discouraging meter importation.

“I am impressed with the quantity and quality of meters produced by Metering Solutions Manufacturing Services Limited. I want to commend the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for creating the enabling environment for the company to thrive here,” Nwokolo stated.

He further emphasized that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to supporting local investors as part of its economic growth strategy.

“To achieve this, we must conserve our foreign exchange and increase the value of the Naira by patronizing local manufacturers. The Nigerian Local Content Law must be enforced. We cannot continue to allow foreign companies, especially the Chinese, to flood our markets with finished products at the expense of local industries,” he added.

The Negative Impact of Meter Importation

Nwokolo warned that allowing large-scale importation of finished meters into the country negatively affects local businesses and deprives Nigerian youth of employment opportunities. He also highlighted the challenges of maintenance and repairs for imported meters, arguing that supporting local manufacturers would ensure better after-sales services.

“When imported meters develop faults, who repairs them? Let’s patronize our local manufacturers. If a locally made meter gets bad, it can be returned to the distribution companies, where it will be repaired and reused.”

He called for an end to special waivers granted to foreign companies for meter imports, insisting that similar tariffs and penalties imposed on vehicle importation should be applied to imported electricity meters.

Industry Frustration Over Lack of Government Support

Earlier in the meeting, the Managing Director of Metering Solutions Manufacturing Services Limited, Tolulope Ogunkolade, expressed displeasure over the lack of patronage for locally manufactured meters. He revealed that while Chinese companies were allocated 1.3 million meters to import into Nigeria, local manufacturers were sidelined.

“We are capable of meeting the country’s metering demands, but unfortunately, preference is still given to imported meters over our own locally manufactured ones. This is unfair to the local industry and the economy,” Ogunkolade lamented.

The Path Forward: Strengthening Local Meter Production

With the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) already in motion, stakeholders believe that proper policy enforcement and government support can significantly reduce Nigeria’s metering deficit while creating thousands of jobs. The House Committee on Power’s advocacy for tariff restrictions on imports and stronger local content enforcement signals a push for a self-sustaining power sector.

As the government reviews its approach to metering solutions, local manufacturers hope that this renewed attention will translate into favorable policies, increased investments, and a more robust domestic metering industry.