FG meters 60% of Nigeria electricity customers, targets end of estimated billing
Federal government announced Wednesday it has metered roughly 60 percent of Nigeria's active electricity customers through Phase 1 of the $500 million World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme. Specifically, 668,000 meters have been installed out of 1,033,000 delivered under the program.
This metering push, driven by the Presidential Metering Initiative and Bureau of Public Enterprises coordination, aims to eliminate arbitrary estimated billing - a persistent complaint where DisCos bill customers based on guesswork rather than actual meter readings. The goal is to close the metering gap completely and ensure Nigerians pay only for what they consume.
Beyond metering, 17 states have created State Electricity Regulatory Commissions since April 2024, including Akwa Ibom State in July 2026, as part of broader electricity sector reform under the Electricity Act. The National Council on Privatisation continues stakeholder engagement to fine-tune implementation, with the Minister of Power emphasizing efforts to ensure Nigerians gain value from the sector.
With verified metered billing on the horizon, consumers should prepare for bills reflecting actual usage - which could lower costs for low-energy users while ensuring fair payment based on real consumption. Will this metering rollout finally end the estimated billing nightmare that has plagued Nigerian electricity consumers for years?