The Federal Government has announced plans to receive the first batch of 3,205,101 pre-paid meters starting in April 2025, as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s electricity metering deficit.
This was revealed by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, in a statement released on Sunday and signed by his Special Adviser on Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji.
According to the statement, the first batch of 75,000 meters, sourced through the International Competitive Bid 1, is expected next month, followed by a second batch of 200,000 meters in May 2025.
While acknowledging challenges in the power sector’s metering efforts, Adelabu emphasized that progress has been made in reducing the metering gap. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to bridging the shortfall through targeted interventions and systematic strategies, noting that over 5.5 million electricity customers had already been metered by December 2024.
“As of December 2024, a total of 5,502,460 customers—around 55 percent of Nigeria’s 10,114,060 active electricity users—had been metered,” the statement read. “In 2024 alone, 572,050 meters were installed, and the average annual installation rate is currently 668,000.”
To expedite meter distribution, the government is relying on two major initiatives: the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) and the newly launched ₦700 billion Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI).
Under DISREP, 3.2 million meters are scheduled for delivery by 2026, utilizing different procurement models: 1,437,501 meters through ICB1, 217,600 via National Competitive Bidding, and 1.55 million via a second international bid. Meanwhile, the PMI is set to provide two million meters annually over the next five years, supported by ₦700 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee. The initiative will be managed by a Special Purpose Vehicle to ensure efficient procurement and distribution, with the first tender for two million meters expected in the third quarter of 2025.
Despite ongoing challenges, Adelabu dismissed claims that it would take over a decade to close the metering gap, calling such statements misleading. “With structured financing and targeted implementation already underway, Nigeria’s metering situation is expected to see significant improvement by the end of this year,” Adelabu concluded.