ABUJA,Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Federal Government has revealed plans to launch the full deployment of free electricity meters under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) by the fourth quarter of 2025.
This move is part of broader efforts to bridge Nigeria’s persistent metering deficit and boost efficiency across the power sector.
During Day 2 of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) Stakeholders Meeting held Tuesday in Lagos, a representative of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Eriye Onagoruwa, provided fresh insights into the PMI.
She stated that the initiative aims to deliver over six million meters at no cost to consumers.
Onagoruwa explained that funding for the program would be drawn from multiple sources, including the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), the Federation Account, and the Meter Asset Fund.
She noted that the initial focus would be on high-consumption zones, starting with “Band A customers”, who receive the most consistent power supply.
“Key to our success is streamlining the installer certification process, strengthening communication infrastructure, and ensuring implementation readiness across all stakeholders,” she said, as shared via the official X handle of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
She emphasized that the initiative is being driven by strategic collaboration between the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), and the electricity distribution companies (DisCos).
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“Over six million meters are planned from multiple sources, including DISREP, Federation Account, and the Meter Asset Fund. Key priorities include streamlining installer certification, deploying meters to high-consumption areas (starting with Band A customers), and ensuring robust communication infrastructure.
“Full rollout is targeted for Q4 2025, with ongoing coordination among DisCos, BPE, and NAPTIN to ensure implementation readiness,” she added.
The lack of widespread metering has been a long-standing challenge in Nigeria’s power sector, contributing to non-transparent billing and undermining revenue generation. Millions of customers remain subjected to estimated billing practices.
Earlier in the year, Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu announced that the government expects 75,000 meters to be delivered under International Competitive Bid 1 by April 2025, with an additional 200,000 meters expected in May.
Stakeholders at the meeting concurred that fast-tracking metering would not only enhance revenue collection for DisCos but also help rebuild consumer trust.
Launched in 2023, the PMI is a core component of President Bola Tinubu’s energy sector reforms, which seek to tackle structural issues in electricity distribution and billing.
Also discussed during the meeting was Nigeria’s transition toward state-level electricity markets, in line with the Electricity Act 2023, which grants regulatory authority to subnational governments.
Presentations indicated that 11 states have begun transitioning, with seven states Enugu, Ondo, Ekiti, Imo, Oyo, Edo, and Kogi already managing their own electricity markets.
Participants stressed the need for capacity development, investment readiness, and harmonised regulation to ensure successful implementation of state-managed power systems.
The event featured dynamic discussions among regulators, DisCos, policymakers, and technical stakeholders, all focused on finding practical solutions to the country’s electricity challenges.
Key topics included aligning federal and state policies, extending grid access, and improving service delivery.
The NESI Stakeholders Meeting remains a vital platform for tracking sectoral progress and fostering coordination as Nigeria advances toward a more decentralised, reliable, and transparent power system.