Fire Destroys Over ₦10 Million Worth Of Prepaid Meters In Ondo Warehouse

The Ondo State command of the Nigeria Police Force has launched an investigation into a suspected arson attack that razed a warehouse belonging to a government-accredited meter supplier in Okitipupa, destroying prepaid electricity meters estimated at over ₦10 million.

The warehouse, located along Barracks Road, was said to have been completely gutted by fire in the early hours of Monday, with no items salvaged from the facility.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, October 30, that the command had begun a full-scale investigation into the attack.

“We have launched an investigation into the arson incident at the prepaid meter warehouse,” Ayanlade said.

“The public should be assured that the culprits will face the law after the conclusion of our investigation.”

He described the act as “a grievous offence”, vowing that the perpetrators would be tracked down and prosecuted.

 The affected warehouse belongs to Active Achievers Nigeria Limited, one of the Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) approved by the Ondo State Government under the O’Datiwa Metering Scheme, an initiative introduced by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to end estimated billing and promote prepaid metering across the state.

According to reports, the fire destroyed over 100 units of Active Energy Prepaid Meters, each valued at tens of thousands of naira, with the total loss estimated at more than ₦10 million.

Residents in the area were said to have been helpless as the flames spread rapidly through the facility before firefighters could arrive.

Speaking on the incident, the Managing Director of Active Achievers Nigeria Limited, Henry Akinbola-Oyimbo, described the fire as “a deliberate act of sabotage.”

He said the meters stored in the warehouse were non-inflammable, ruling out the possibility of an accidental fire.

“We were informed early in the morning that a raging fire was consuming our warehouse,” Akinbola-Oyinbo said.

“Our Active Energy Prepaid Meters, though the best and most affordable in the market at the moment, are not inflammable and could not have caught fire without someone deliberately setting it ablaze.”

He described the incident as “devastating”, adding that it was aimed at frustrating the state government’s efforts to improve power access and transparency in electricity billing.

“Most disheartening is the commendable initiative of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to end estimated billing for energy consumers in Ondo State through the O’Datiwa Metering Scheme, which some bad elements appear determined to frustrate,” he lamented.

Akinbola-Oyinbo urged security agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident to uncover those behind the attack.

“This is so devastating that agents of darkness could strike in this manner. We are calling on security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” he added.

As of the time of filing this report, the Ondo State Police Command said no arrests had been made but assured residents that investigations were ongoing.

It was reported that the O’Datiwa Metering Scheme, launched earlier this year, is one of the flagship initiatives of the Aiyedatiwa administration aimed at promoting accountability in energy consumption, reducing estimated billing, and supporting local suppliers of prepaid meters across Ondo communities.