The Federal Government has installed 668,000 electricity meters nationwide, as part of efforts to close the country’s metering gap and reduce reliance on estimated billing.
The metering exercise is being carried out under Phase 1 of the $500 million World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), with the government saying the initiative is aimed at ensuring electricity customers are billed according to their actual consumption.
Speaking yesterday during a briefing on the activities of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), chaired by Vice President, Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayodeji Gbeleyi, said the council was briefed on progress made in the metering programme and other reforms in the electricity sector.
Gbeleyi said 1,033,000 meters had been delivered under Phase 1 of the World Bank-backed programme, out of which 668,000 had so far been deployed and installed at customers’ premises, representing about 60 per cent of the meters delivered.
“On various issues, we provided updates on meter deployment under Phase 1 of the World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme.
“We have implemented 60 percent of the meters that have been delivered in the country out of 1,033,000. So far, we have deployed and installed 668,000 meters on customers’ premises,” he stated.
The BPE boss said the metering initiative, alongside the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), was part of broader government efforts to address Nigeria’s electricity metering deficit and reduce the incidence of estimated billing, which has remained a major concern among electricity consumers.
On the implementation of the Electricity Act, Gbeleyi disclosed that about 17 states had established their own State Electricity Regulatory Commissions since April 2024, following the gradual transition from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to state-level regulation.
He noted that Akwa Ibom State became the latest state to establish its electricity regulatory commission in July 2026, but added that further adjustments were required to ensure a smooth implementation of the Electricity Act.
According to him, the NCP has directed key stakeholders, led by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Power, the Special Adviser to the President on Power, the Special Adviser to the President on Oil and Gas, NERC and BPE, among others, to work together on proposed amendments to the Electricity Act.
He said the objective was to streamline and harmonise the Federal Government’s position, particularly on areas requiring clarification as more states assume regulatory responsibilities in the electricity sector.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the government was working collaboratively to ensure Nigerians derive greater value from electricity and other critical sectors of the economy.
“We are working concertedly and in a very collaborative manner to ensure that we give value, either in electricity or in telecoms whichever area to make sure that Nigerians benefit from this government,” Tegbe said.
The NCP meeting was attended by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, who serves as Vice Chairman of the council; the Minister of Power; the Solicitor-General, representing the Attorney-General of the Federation; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; and private members of the council, among other officials.
