FG installs 668,000 meters, moves to end estimated billing
…Says 60% of active electricity customers now metered
…NCP orders review, fine-tuning of Electricity Act
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to eliminate estimated electricity billing across the country, with 668,000 meters installed under the first phase of the World Bank funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP).
The National Council on Privatisation (NCP), which disclosed this on Wednesday, said about 60 per cent of active electricity customers nationwide had now been metered as the government works to close the existing metering gap.
The council said the ongoing meter rollout, alongside initiatives such as the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), was aimed at ending arbitrary estimated billing for registered electricity customers across the country.
The disclosure was contained in updates presented at the NCP’s second meeting for 2026, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House, Abuja.
Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said significant progress had been recorded under Phase One of the $500 million World Bank financed DISREP.
According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Gbeleyi said 668,000 of the 1.033 million meters delivered under the programme had so far been deployed and installed at customers’ premises.
Gbeleyi said: “On various issues, we provided updates on meter deployment under Phase 1 of the World Bank financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme. We have implemented 60 percent of the meters that have been delivered in the country out of 1,033,000. So far, we have deployed and installed 668,000 meters on customers’ premises.”
The BPE Director General also disclosed that the NCP reviewed the implementation of the Electricity Act, particularly the transition of electricity regulation from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to State Electricity Regulatory Commissions.
He said about 17 states had established their own electricity regulatory commissions since April 2024, with Akwa Ibom State becoming one of the latest after establishing its commission in July.
Gbeleyi, however, said experience from the implementation of the Act had shown that some of its provisions required further refinement to ensure a smooth regulatory transition and clarify responsibilities between the federal and state authorities.
“Some fine tuning is required here and there in the implementation of that Act,” he said.
According to him, the NCP consequently directed relevant stakeholders to work together to harmonise the Federal Government’s position on the amendments required to strengthen and fine tune the Electricity Act.
He said the council had directed stakeholders led by the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Power, the Special Adviser on Power, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Oil and Gas, NERC, the BPE and other critical stakeholders to engage constructively on the proposed amendments.
“Council has directed that stakeholders, led by the Attorney General of the Federation, the Honourable Minister of Power, the Special Adviser on Power, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Oil and Gas, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the BPE and all other critical stakeholders, should engage constructively so as to streamline and harmonise the Federal Government’s position in terms of the required amendments to fine tune the Electricity Act, and we are engaging in that regard,” he stated.
Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, said the council was working collaboratively to ensure that Nigerians derived tangible benefits from reforms and investments in the electricity sector and other critical areas of the economy.
“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, who serves as Vice Chairman of the NCP; the Minister of Power; the Attorney General of the Federation, represented by the Solicitor General; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; as well as private sector members of the council.
The NCP is the Federal Government’s apex body responsible for formulating and approving policies on the privatisation and commercialisation of public enterprises, while the BPE serves as its secretariat.