The Nigerian Army has commended the roll out of meters across barracks, stressing that the move would improve energy management.

Last year, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) issued a 10-day notice to 86 strategic Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to pay the massive N47.1 billion electricity debt they owed as of December 2023 or risk disconnection.

At the top of the list of debtors is the State House, Abuja, with a N923.87 million debt, while the Ministry of Defence and its barracks owed N12 billion.

The outcry over the transparency of the bills, which was primarily estimated, had led to the launch of the metering scheme at the Ikeja Cantonment in Lagos. The initiative seeks to boost power, accountability and operational efficiency within military formations.

In an official letter to De-Haryor Global Services, the Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, praised the implementation of Phase One of the scheme, noting significant improvements in power supply duration and better energy use across participating barracks.

Signed on his behalf by Major General Abiodun Fadayiro, the correspondence highlighted the near-completion of Phase One, covering installations at barracks in Lagos (Ikeja), Enugu (Abakpa), the Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, and selected facilities in Abuja. The Army urged the contractor to maintain momentum as work advances into the next phases of the project.

De-Haryor’s Chief Executive Officer, Ashade Olatunbosun, acknowledged initial financial challenges, including delayed disbursement of funds that affected early mobilisation. Nonetheless, he reported a surge in activity, with thousands of smart meters already deployed to ensure greater billing accuracy, energy efficiency, and transparency.

He said, despite early setbacks, the project has generated N769.1 million in revenue between August 2024 and April 2025.

Olatunbosun attributed this to strong satisfaction from the Army and the effective execution of the project, which has sparked interest in expanding metering to more military installations nationwide.

“This represents a key milestone in the modernisation of Nigeria’s energy infrastructure, particularly in critical public sectors,” he stated, reaffirming the company’s commitment to sustainable partnerships that promote growth and accountability.

the guardian