The Federal Government has announced plans to commence the full rollout of free electricity meters under the Presidential Metering Initiative by the fourth quarter of 2025, as part of efforts to close Nigeria’s long-standing metering gap and improve efficiency in the power sector.
Speaking at the Day 2 session of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry Stakeholders Meeting held on Tuesday in Lagos, a representative of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Eriye Onagoruwa, provided updates on the PMI, noting that the initiative is designed to deliver over six million meters to end users at no cost.
According to Onagoruwa, funding for the meters will come from a mix of sources, including the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme, the Federation Account, and the Meter Asset Fund.
She added that the PMI is focused on deploying meters to high-consumption areas first, beginning with Band A customers who typically receive the most hours of electricity supply.
“Key to our success is streamlining the installer certification process, strengthening communication infrastructure, and ensuring implementation readiness across all stakeholders,” she said, according to a post on the official X handle of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The initiative, she said, is being driven through strategic coordination between the Bureau of Public Enterprises, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, and the electricity distribution companies.
“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 absence of widespread metering has long undermined the transparency and financial sustainability of the power sector, with millions of electricity consumers still on estimated billing.
Earlier this year, the power minister, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, said the government was expecting about 75,000 meters under the International Competitive Bid 1 by April 2025, with a second batch of 200,000 meters that will follow in May 2025.
Stakeholders at the meeting agreed that accelerating metering will not only improve revenue assurance for Discos but also rebuild trust among consumers.
The PMI, which was unveiled in 2023, is central to President Bola Tinubu’s broader energy reforms aimed at addressing systemic inefficiencies in electricity supply and billing.
Also on the agenda during Day 2 of the NESI Stakeholders Meeting was Nigeria’s ongoing transition to state electricity markets in line with the Electricity Act 2023, which devolves regulatory powers to subnational governments.
Presentations revealed that 11 states have so far begun the transition process, with seven — including Enugu, Ondo, Ekiti, Imo, Oyo, Edo, and Kogi — having fully transitioned to managing their electricity markets.
Participants at the session emphasised the importance of capacity building, investment readiness, and regulatory coordination to ensure the success of state-led electricity frameworks.
The stakeholders’ meeting was marked by robust dialogue, with regulators, Discos, policymakers, and technical partners all contributing to discussions on practical solutions to Nigeria’s power challenges.
From aligning federal and state regulations to expanding grid access and improving service delivery, the deliberations reflected a shared resolve to shape a more resilient and responsive power sector.
The NESI Stakeholders Meeting continues to serve as a critical platform for reviewing progress and aligning efforts across the electricity value chain, especially as Nigeria navigates its path toward a more decentralised and efficient energy future.
