By Wellington Jopelo
The Federal Government has barred electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and their installers from collecting any form of payment for meter installation, warning that officials or contractors caught extorting customers will face prosecution.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, issued the directive on Thursday during an inspection of newly imported smart meters at APM Terminals, Apapa, Lagos. He said the meters, procured under the World Bank–funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), must be installed for consumers at no cost.
Adelabu stressed that demanding money for meter installation is illegal and will attract sanctions. “Nobody should collect a dime from any consumer. It is an offence. Even third-party installers must not ask for any payment. These meters are to be distributed and installed free of charge,” he said.
The minister explained that the Federal Government is importing about 3.4 million meters in two batches to close Nigeria’s metering gap. He said close to one million meters from the first batch had already arrived, with about 150,000 installed nationwide. Another 500,000 meters were received in the latest shipment.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of installation but said the initiative marks the beginning of efforts to completely eliminate estimated billing in the power sector. Adelabu added that the programme would improve transparency, boost consumers’ willingness to pay, and strengthen liquidity in the electricity industry.
“We are not discriminating among customers. These meters are for all electricity users, regardless of band classification. Band A, B or C is temporary. Every Nigerian customer will be metered,” he said.
The minister announced that the government would establish a customer complaint desk and strengthen monitoring through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and state regulatory authorities. He said tip-offs from the public would be acted upon and any confirmed cases of extortion would lead to prosecution.
“Extortion will not be tolerated. Any DisCo official or installer involved, no matter how highly placed, will be prosecuted and publicly exposed to deter others,” Adelabu warned.
He also disclosed that the Olokola and DISREP reforms are being tracked end-to-end to ensure effective implementation, adding that the Tinubu administration is determined to resolve decades-long challenges affecting the sector.
On concerns about delays, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Ayo Gbeleyi, said a new circular from NERC would soon prescribe protocols to ensure unhindered access for meter installations. He noted that the meters are configured specifically for each DisCo and cannot be transferred between distribution companies.
The Chairman of Mojec, Mojisola Abdul, said nearly 150,000 meters had already been installed free of charge and urged consumers not to pay anyone. She added that a mobile registration system was being introduced to speed up deployment, promising installation within three days of registration.
Adelabu also visited the National Meter Test Station in Oshodi, where meters are certified by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency. He said Nigeria currently has over five million customers underestimated billing and reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring every household and business is metered free of charge.