Ben Eguzozie
Aba Power, Nigeria’s newest electric distribution company’s (DisCo) mass rollout of prepaid electricity meters has created over 350 new jobs, according to Edise Ekong, the utility firm’s senior manager brand and communication.
Ekong explained that the jobs would come directly from its partnerships with three-meter producers.
“Each of the meter vendor partners is creating over 100 direct jobs, including meter assemblers, meter installers, apart from transporters, warehouse hands, security, and others who will be impacted positively by the rollout,” he said.
The senior manager brand and communication informed that Kayz Consortium is bringing eight expatriates this month to lead its 130-man workforce in assembling 90,000 meters from April to December 2025 for Aba Power customers.
“The expatriates will return to their home country when they conclude their supervision of the meter assembling, having trained enough of our people to continue assembling and installing the meters. These are representatives of the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) from China, and their presence ensures quality assurance in assembling and installing the meters in the field, he said.
Ekong quoted the Kays Consortium managing director, Prince Kalu, as saying that the meters would be assembled in the Aba Power premises in the Osisioma Industrial layout in Aba from the middle of April.
Other firms that will start installing meters from May are Chint and Eve Electric, with each working with 34 installers.
Chint Power and Energy Services of China and Eve Electric, all of China, will start their mass meter installation next month.
The companies will be joined by local meter manufacturing companies, including HAMPOC Utilities Ltd and M.E Meters, in the fast metering project of Aba Power which services nine of the 17 local government areas (LGAs) in Abia State.
The two companies will install 20,000 prepaid meters within 4 weeks of their arrival. The 20,000 meters installed by Kayz in April will make many in the Aba Ring-fenced Area covering nine of the 17 LGAs in Abia State have meters, and will help end complaints about the DisCo’s estimated billing system.
“We are committed to providing enough meters to all our over 350,000 customers in the Aba Ring-fenced Area with modern prepaid meters within one year. Meters make for transparency and accountability, making our customers and our company happy and satisfied, Ekong said.
