Residents in Akure, the Ondo State capital, have raised concerns over what they describe as irregularities and possible exploitation in the distribution and installation of prepaid meters by electricity officials.
In a complaint submitted by Mr. Alo Martins, a property manager, he alleged that at a property on Fadeyi Street, Oshinle in Akure, two prepaid meters were installed for four flats, but occupants were asked to pay ₦80,000 per meter, totalling ₦160,000. According to the complaint, electricity supply to the property was allegedly withheld after the residents were unable to make the payment, while the device used to load credit onto the meter was also removed.
The residents further claimed that they have been without electricity for more than two weeks, with officials reportedly insisting that payment must be made before supply can be restored.
A similar situation was also reported at another property on Ondo Road, where residents were allegedly informed that the prepaid meter was free, but were later asked to pay ₦50,000 as an installation fee. The complaint stated that meter accessories were removed in the same manner and electricity supply was again withheld pending payment.
Another resident of Akure, Engr. Daniel Oke, narrated his ordeal with the metering system, he raised concerns over the alleged irregularities in the prepaid meter installation process, stating that a total of ₦80,000 was collected under questionable circumstances. According to the account, ₦30,000 was paid for bill generation and registration, while officials initially demanded ₦150,000 for the meter, despite the widely publicized position that prepaid meters are provided at no direct cost to consumers under regulatory schemes. After the amount was reportedly reduced to ₦50,000, bringing the total payment to ₦80,000. The resident further disclosed that a code was issued for meter activation, to be used when electricity supply is restored, but the code has yet to work, with instructions to contact the officials again once power is available, raising further concerns about transparency and possible exploitation in the process.
The conflicting claims have reportedly created confusion among residents, with some officials said to be describing the meters as free, while others allegedly present them as subsidized and demand payment. There are also reports that prepaid meters are being sold within Akure for between ₦150,000 and ₦170,000.
The complainant, Mr. Alo expressed concern that the situation appears to contradict public claims that prepaid meters under federal government initiatives are meant to be provided free of charge to consumers, including installation.
He called for urgent intervention by the relevant authorities and the electricity distribution company in Akure to investigate the matter, clarify the official policy on prepaid meters, and stop what residents fear may amount to exploitation.
The complaint has since drawn the attention of all stakeholders, as residents continue to demand transparency, fairness, and immediate restoration of electricity supply to affected homes in Akure.
All efforts to reach out to the BEDC officials for comments or their own side of the story, proved abortive.
Palace Pulse Desk.
