FG Installs 668,000 Meters in Push to End Estimated Billing
By Victor Idajil
The Federal Government says it has installed 668,000 electricity meters under the first phase of its World Bank-backed programme to stop estimated billing nationwide.
The update was given on Wednesday at the National Council on Privatisation meeting in Abuja, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
According to the Bureau of Public Enterprises, about 60% of active electricity customers in Nigeria are now metered.
BPE Director-General, Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, said the installations were done under Phase 1 of the $500 million Distribution Sector Recovery Programme, DISREP, funded by the World Bank.
Of the 1.033 million meters delivered so far, 668,000 have been deployed to customers’ premises.
“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,” Gbeleyi told journalists after the meeting.
The rollout is being done alongside the Presidential Metering Initiative. Both programmes are targeted at ending estimated billing for registered electricity customers.
The Council also reviewed implementation of the Electricity Act, which allows states to take over regulation of electricity from NERC.
Gbeleyi said 17 states have set up their own electricity regulatory commissions since April 2024. Akwa Ibom was the latest, creating its commission in July.
He noted that experience so far shows some parts of the Act need refinement to make the transition smoother and clarify roles between federal and state authorities.
“Council has directed that stakeholders, led by the Attorney General of the Federation, the Honourable Minister of Power, the Special Adviser on Power, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Oil and Gas, NERC, BPE and all other critical stakeholders, should engage constructively so as to streamline and harmonise the Federal Government’s position in terms of the required amendments to fine-tune the Electricity Act,” he said.
Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, said the government was working to ensure Nigerians feel the impact of reforms in power and other sectors.
“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.
Those at the meeting included the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, who is Vice Chairman of the NCP; the Minister of Power; the Solicitor-General representing the Attorney-General; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; and private-sector members of the Council.
