- FG, states raise N100bn for meter procurement – Adelabu
The Nigerian Communications Commission has announced September 14, 2024, as the final deadline for Nigerians to link their Subscriber Identification Modules to National Identity Numbers.
“To ensure full compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage policy, the NCC has directed all Mobile Network Operators to complete the mandatory verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs by September 14, 2024.
“Effective September 15, 2024, the commission expects that no SIM operating in Nigeria will be without a valid NIN,” the NCC said in a statement signed by its Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, on Wednesday.
Muoka explained that over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked to a NIN, reflecting an impressive compliance rate of 96 per cent, a substantial increase from 69.7 per cent in January 2024.
“We urge all members of the public who have not yet completed their NIN-SIM linkage, or who have faced issues due to verification mismatches, to visit their service providers promptly to update their details before the deadline.
“Alternatively, the approved self-service portals are available for this purpose,” the statement added.
The NCC also stressed that the sale and purchase of pre-registered SIMs are criminal offences punishable by imprisonment and fines.
“As we approach the final phase of this critical process, the NCC seeks the continued cooperation of all Nigerians to achieve 100 per cent compliance. The complete linkage of all SIM cards to NINs is essential for enhancing the trust and security of our digital economy.
“By verifying all mobile users, this policy strengthens confidence in digital transactions, reduces the risk of fraud and cybercrime, and supports greater participation in e-commerce, digital banking, and mobile money services. This, in turn, promotes financial inclusion and drives economic growth.
“Through collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Identity Management Commission, the NCC has uncovered alarming cases where individuals possessed an unusually high number of SIM cards—some exceeding 100,000. The Commission also remains committed to working with security agencies and other stakeholders to crack down on the sale of pre-registered SIMs, thereby safeguarding national security and ensuring the integrity of mobile numbers in Nigeria,” the statement added.
FG, states raise N100bn for meter procurement
Also, the Federal Government and the states have raised N100bn for the procurement of prepaid electricity meters.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said this was under the Presidential Meter Initiative programme.
Adelabu disclosed this while addressing broadcasters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has been making efforts to close the meter gap in Nigeria, adopting various initiatives.
He mentioned that many customers are not paying their bills because they believe they are being cheated by the power distribution companies through estimated billing, stressing that metering would ensure transparency.
“Out of over the 12 million electricity customers we have in Nigeria, only a little over five million is metered. We have over a seven million meter gap today, and these are self-inflicted problems,” Adelabu explained.
Speaking about the efforts of the government to close the meter gap, he explained, “Mr President has set up what we call the Presidential Meter Initiative and set up a Presidential Meeting Council to address this issue. He made me the chairman of this council. The SA on Energy to Mr President is the secretary of the council. The mandate we have was to procure and install a minimum of two million meters on a yearly basis over the next five years.
“In the PMI, we have made good progress in sourcing the fund for this, and it is going to be by a combination of the federal and state governments. Today, we have received and we have seen about N100bn that will go into the procurement of meters.”
He added that the World Bank decided to support Nigeria with the procurement of almost two million meters in the next two years through the distribution sector recovery programme.
He disclosed that $200m out of the $500m DISREP fund would be used for meter procurement, saying this has reached an advanced stage.
“In fact, for the World Bank, we have issued contract awards. It’s just for them to start bringing the meters from overseas and locally. Because of the capacity requirements, we cannot just depend on local patronage alone. We must bring it from other clients where it’s even cheaper. Even our assemblers are bringing the parts, which are the SKDs or the CKDs, (completely knocked down parts or semi-knocked down parts). Then we also encourage our local manufacturers.
“So it’s a combination of international competitive bidding and national competitive bidding. Before the end of the year, they will start bringing the meters in,” he posited.
He added that the sale of meters has been liberalised by allowing the DisCos to allow their customers to buy directly from the vendors.
He also acknowledged that the cost of meters has risen because of the exchange rates.
“The meter that was going for N80, 000 before probably is about N120, 000 now. That’s the reality. What now matters most is the funding of this,” he noted.
