By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.
The Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria (AMMON) has withdrawn its suit against the Federal Government, ending a legal dispute that had stalled the procurement of 1.55 million smart meters under various government intervention programmes.
The withdrawal, effected through a Notice of Discontinuance filed at the Federal High Court in Kano, followed intervention by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, and a high-level resolution meeting involving AMMON and relevant government agencies.
The development clears the way for the resumption of procurement activities under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF 3) and the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI).
The dispute had escalated in April 2026 when AMMON secured an injunction halting bidding processes for the various metering procurement programmes.
However, the Minister of Power, in collaboration with government agencies including the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), facilitated a mutually acceptable resolution that addressed the concerns of local meter manufacturers while remaining within the framework of local and international competitive procurement rules.
The resolution resulted in commitments that persuaded AMMON to discontinue the suit, thereby allowing the stalled procurement processes to proceed.
The Federal Ministry of Power said the resolution demonstrated the government’s commitment to dialogue and collaboration in resolving industry challenges, while advancing the “Nigeria First” agenda and promoting local industrial participation.
The development is also expected to support efforts to close Nigeria’s electricity metering gap, improve revenue collection by electricity distribution companies and reduce reliance on estimated billing, which has remained a major source of frustration for electricity consumers.
The resolution forms part of the broader efforts of the Federal Ministry of Power, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to accelerate power sector reforms and promote reliable and affordable electricity through stronger collaboration between government and stakeholders.
