The Federal Government has announced the arrival of the first batch of prepaid electricity meters under its renewed push to close the metering gap across the country, with over 275,000 units expected between April and May 2025.
According to a statement released by Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, the move is part of the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), which aims to deliver a total of 3,205,101 meters by 2026.
Tunji disclosed that the first set of 75,000 meters under the International Competitive Bid 1 (ICB1) will arrive this April, while an additional 200,000 meters will be delivered in May. These installations form part of a broader strategy to tackle the estimated seven million metering gap in Nigeria’s power sector.
As of December 2024, Nigeria had 5,502,460 metered customers, representing about 55 per cent of the nation’s 10,114,060 active electricity consumers. In 2024 alone, a total of 572,050 meters were installed, with the sector averaging 668,000 meters annually in recent years.
“While the government acknowledges the existing metering gap, it is actively working to close it as quickly as possible,” Tunji noted. “The fact remains that a sizeable portion of active electricity users already have meters.”
He added that efforts to bridge the gap will be boosted by structured financing, government-backed initiatives, and a commitment to deploying meters more efficiently.
The Distribution Sector Recovery Programme will see meters deployed through multiple procurement tracks:
- 1,437,501 meters through ICB1
- 217,600 meters via National Competitive Bidding
- 1,550,000 meters under International Competitive Bid 2 (ICB2)
These installations are scheduled in phases between 2025 and 2026, with deliveries and deployments coordinated in partnership with Distribution Companies (DisCos) and other stakeholders.
In addition to DISREP, the government is also implementing the Presidential Metering Initiative, backed by N700 billion secured from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). The initiative aims to roll out two million meters annually over a five-year period, totaling 10 million meters by 2030.
A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) has been created to oversee the initiative, with the first tender for the 2025 batch of two million meters expected by the third quarter of the year.
“These structured interventions provide a clear roadmap for addressing the metering gap in an effective and sustainable manner,” Tunji said.
The latest developments underscore the government’s renewed focus on reforming Nigeria’s power sector. Closing the metering gap is expected to reduce energy theft, improve revenue collection by DisCos, and enhance transparency in billing—critical steps toward achieving cost-reflective tariffs and a stable electricity market.
