ABUJA — The Federal Government says approximately 60 per cent of active electricity customers in Nigeria have now been metered, as part of ongoing efforts to close the country’s metering gap and end arbitrary estimated billing.
This was disclosed on Thursday in a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President. The update followed the second meeting of the National Council on Privatisation for 2026, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to the statement, the metering exercise is being carried out under Phase 1 of the $500 million World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme, alongside the Presidential Metering Initiative.
Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, said 668,000 meters had been installed out of 1,033,000 meters delivered under the programme.
“On meter deployment under Phase 1 of the World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme, we have implemented 60 per cent of the meters delivered in the country. So far, we have deployed and installed 668,000 meters on customers’ premises,” Gbeleyi said.
The government said the initiative is aimed at closing the metering gap and eliminating arbitrary estimated billing for registered customers nationwide.
Gbeleyi also disclosed that about 17 states have established State Electricity Regulatory Commissions since April 2024, following provisions of the Electricity Act.
Akwa Ibom State became one of the latest to set up its commission in July. However, he noted that “some fine-tuning is required here and there in the implementation of that Act.”
The Council has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Minister of Power, the Special Adviser to the President on Power, the Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the BPE, and other key stakeholders to engage and harmonise the Federal Government’s position on proposed amendments to streamline the Electricity Act.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, said the government is working to ensure Nigerians derive greater value from electricity and other critical sectors.
“We are working concertedly and in a very collaborative manner to ensure that we give value, either in electricity or in telecoms — whichever area — to make sure that Nigerians benefit from this government,” Tegbe said.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Minister of Power, a representative of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, and private members of the council