The Federal Government says about 60 per cent of active electricity consumers across Nigeria have now been provided with electricity meters as part of efforts to reduce estimated billing.
The development is being driven through the Presidential Metering Initiative and Phase 1 of the $500 million World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP).
The update was disclosed during the second 2026 meeting of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
668,000 Meters Installed
The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, said 1,033,000 meters had been delivered under the programme, with 668,000 already installed at customers’ premises.
He said the initiative was aimed at closing Nigeria’s metering gap and reducing arbitrary estimated billing for registered electricity consumers.
“We have implemented 60 per cent of the meters that have been delivered in the country out of 1,033,000,” Gbeleyi said.
17 States Establish Electricity Regulators
The BPE boss also provided an update on the implementation of the Electricity Act, particularly the transfer of certain regulatory responsibilities from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to state electricity regulatory commissions.
According to him, about 17 states have established their own electricity regulatory commissions since April 2024.
He noted that Akwa Ibom became the latest state to establish its own electricity regulatory commission in July 2026, adding that further adjustments were needed to ensure smooth implementation of the Electricity Act.
The NCP has directed key stakeholders, including the Attorney-General of the Federation, Minister of Power, NERC and BPE, to work together on proposed amendments aimed at harmonising the Federal Government’s position on the Act.
FG Promises Better Value For Nigerians
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe said the government was working with relevant agencies to ensure Nigerians receive better value from essential sectors, particularly electricity and telecommunications.
He said the government remained committed to improving service delivery and ensuring that citizens benefit from ongoing reforms in critical sectors of the economy.
