The Federal Government on Tuesday inaugurated a Meter Generation Museum/Gallery at the National Meter Test Station, Oshodi, Lagos State.
The Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of State for Power, Mr Iyali Peter, stated that the inauguration was performed through the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA)
The Minister, Mr. Goddy Jedy-Agba, was quoted in a statement as saying during the event that the museum/gallery was designed to showcase the evolution path of electricity meter in the country.
According to him, the technological evolution was done from a simple electro-mechanical electricity meter to Advanced Meter Reading (AMR) and Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) which “is considered the first of its kind in Africa”.
The minister further explained that the project was aimed at educating Nigerians on how electricity meters used to be during the pre-independence era.
Jedy-Agba pointed out that the several evolution steps was a result of technological advancement, where it is now and a perception of what it is expected to be in the future.
While noting that the establishment of the museum/gallery has ushered in the historical time-line of electricity meter generation closer to Nigerians and the world at large, the minister hinted that the facility would be used as a collaborative launch-pad in the power sector for lecturers, students, tourists and electricity users to enhance their knowledge in evolution of meters.
Jedy-Agba further said that NEMSA intended to set up similar galleries of generation of electricity energy meters in other National Meter Test Stations in Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Kano and Benin.
He expatiated: ”It is our fervent belief that with today’s event, NEMSA will further create awareness on the importance of electricity meters in homes.
“What to look for in the meters and ultimately educate Nigerians on the need to insist on having only metres duly tested by NEMSA with attached NEMSA crimp seals”, Jedy-Agba added.
In his remarks at the event, NEMSA’s Managing Director, Mr. Tahir Aliyu, said that the project was a unique milestone in the history of the agency, stressing that the importance of the energy meter in the electricity value chain “cannot be over-emphasized”.
The NEMSA’s boss recalled that the project evolved from simple billing devices to an essential part of electricity network which monitors and helps with load management.
