Yemisi Izuora
OneCard Nigeria, has partnered with Eko Electricity Distribution Plc (EKEDP) to give postpaid and prepaid electricity customers instant recharge for their meters using scratch cards, web and mobile technology.
Postpaid and prepaid EKEDP customers will now be able to recharge their electricity meters instantly, using the One1Card multipurpose recharge cards, as well as OneCard’s Direct TopUp (DTU) vendors, who will be able to recharge electricity meters from anywhere in the country, using handheld devices. Corporate clients and individuals will also be able to use the company’s online platforms to set up automatic, recurring recharge for their meters.
The service is the first of its kind in the fast-moving consumer goods industry, and uses technology to enable individuals and businesses make instant top up to the power distribution company.
OneCard says it developed this service to empower Nigeria’s electricity customers and ensure they never have to spend a day in the dark due to lack of credit.
Mr. Sam Nwaire, Chief Commercial Officer, EKEDP, said, “Our partnership with OneCard will greatly enhance our service delivery to customers, while enabling us to collect revenue 24/7 and power EKEDP for decades to come. We are pleased to offer our customers the added convenience of recharging their meters from the comfort of their own homes or from recharge card vendors close to them without having to travel to our service centres if they don’t need to.”
OneCard Chairman, Mr. Tunde Odulaja, said, “OneCard has provided prepaid and postpaid recharge channels for mobile, TV and toll providers and we are very excited to be able to extend our innovative service to the power distribution sector in Nigeria. Soon there will be a Direct TopUp vendor on every street with an EKEDP customer, for the added convenience. Our technology has been gaining popularity steadily in the consumer markets, as customers discover that they now have a more convenient way to recharge services they use every day.”
OneCard Nigeria has brought the same mobile convenience to Nigerian consumers by partnering with Startimes TV, LCC and all major mobile network providers. Odulaja confirms that the company is in the process of developing similar service agreements with other DISCOs, Internet service providers and the National Health Insurance Scheme, among other services.