Ondo govt exposes plot to discredit O’Datiwa Metering Scheme

By Boye Oyeyemi –

The Ondo State Government has raised the alarm over what it described as a politically sponsored move to smear the image of its O’Datiwa Mass Metering Scheme being supervised by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

In a statement by the ministry’s Information Officer, Debbie Funmilayo, the government dismissed the allegations making the rounds as “false, mischievous, and a desperate attempt by political actors to score cheap points ahead of the coming elections.”

According to the ministry, the group behind the claims, operating under the name Ondo Integrity Group (OIG), is “a fictitious and unregistered body assembled by disgruntled politicians to tarnish the image of Commissioner Johnson Alabi and discredit Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s administration.”

“Intelligence available to us confirms that certain political actors have sponsored online blogs and paid media platforms to circulate fabricated stories designed to create confusion and weaken public confidence,” the statement said.

The alleged group had accused the government of diverting funds meant for the O’Datiwa Mass Metering Scheme to private accounts — a claim the ministry described as baseless and politically motivated.

“All financial transactions under the metering scheme are conducted through a government-controlled account domiciled in JAIZ Bank, alongside verified online payment channels approved by the Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (OSERB). The false claim that payments were directed into private accounts is mischievous and misleading,” the ministry stated.

It explained that the mass metering scheme accommodates private participation through accredited Meter Asset Providers (MAPs), who function independently under regulatory supervision, adding that about ten licensed MAPs currently operate within the state.