The Federal Government has directed electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and meter installers to provide smart meters to electricity consumers free of charge, warning that any official found demanding payment will be prosecuted.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, gave the directive on Thursday, during an inspection of newly imported smart meters at APM Terminals, Apapa, Lagos.
The meters were procured under the World Bank–funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) to address metering gaps and improve efficiency in the power sector.
Adelabu described the free distribution and installation of the meters as unprecedented, stressing that no consumer is required to pay any fee whatsoever.
“It is an illegality and an offence for officials of distribution companies or their installers to request a dime from consumers before installing these meters. Installation must be done free of charge to improve billing accuracy and collections across the sector,” the minister said.
He explained that the programme would deliver about 3.4 million meters in two phases. According to him, the first batch consists of 1.43 million meters, nearly one million of which have already arrived, while about 150,000 meters have been installed nationwide. He added that an additional 500,000 meters were recently received, all of which are smart meters.
The minister said full metering would enhance transparency, boost consumer confidence, and improve liquidity in the electricity sector. He reiterated that the government would closely monitor the installation process and act on reports of extortion.
Adelabu announced plans to establish a customer complaint desk where consumers can report any illegal charges. He said such complaints would be investigated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in collaboration with state regulatory authorities, noting that offenders would be publicly prosecuted to deter others.
He further clarified that the free meter programme covers all categories of electricity consumers, regardless of tariff bands, assuring Nigerians that the initiative is not restricted to any specific group.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayo Gbeleyi, said the bureau coordinates DISREP and oversees the boards of the 11 electricity distribution companies. He disclosed that NERC would soon issue a new circular outlining clear protocols to ensure unhindered access for meter installation nationwide.
Chairman of Mojec, Mojisola Abdul, confirmed that nearly 150,000 meters had already been installed free of charge, urging consumers not to give money to anyone. She added that a mobile registration process had been introduced to fast-track installations, with meters expected to be installed within three days of registration.
The minister acknowledged previous challenges in meter distribution but assured that the current programme had eliminated obstacles such as limited supply and payment requirements. He said Nigeria currently has over five million electricity consumers under estimated billing, adding that the new initiative marks a significant step toward closing the metering gap.
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