The Federal Government has banned electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and their installers from collecting any form of payment for meter installation, warning that officials found extorting customers will be prosecuted.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, issued the warning on Thursday during an on-site inspection of newly imported smart meters at APM Terminals, Apapa, Lagos.
Adelabu said the meters were procured under the World Bank–funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) and must be installed for electricity consumers free of charge, stressing that any demand for payment, directly or indirectly, would be treated as an offence.
According to the Minister, the initiative is part of efforts to eliminate Nigeria’s long-standing meter gap, improve billing accuracy, and strengthen revenue collection in the power sector. He disclosed that about 500,000 smart meters were recently imported, bringing the total number of meters received under the programme to nearly one million, out of a projected 3.4 million meters.
Adelabu noted that about 150,000 meters have already been installed across the country, adding that the meters would be distributed to all customers, regardless of electricity band.
He warned that the Federal Government would closely monitor the installation process and take firm action against any DisCo official or installer involved in extortion. He also announced plans to establish customer complaint desks and strengthen regulatory oversight through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and state regulatory authorities.
Also speaking, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayo Gbeleyi, said new regulatory guidelines would soon be issued to ensure unhindered access for meter installation nationwide.
Chairman of Mojec, Mojisola Abdul, assured consumers that meter installation under the programme is ongoing and free, urging Nigerians to report any demand for payment.
Nigeria currently has over five million electricity customers on estimated billing, a situation the Federal Government says the free metering initiative aims to address.