The Federal Government has issued a strong warning to electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and their installers, banning them from collecting any form of payment for electricity meters from consumers.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made this declaration on Thursday during an inspection of newly imported smart meters at APM Terminals, Apapa, Lagos. He stressed that all meters procured under the World Bank–funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) must be installed free of charge, and any official or installer found demanding money will face prosecution.
According to Adelabu, over 500,000 smart meters have recently arrived, adding to nearly one million meters already received. So far, about 150,000 meters have been installed nationwide, while the Federal Government plans to distribute a total of 3.4 million meters in two phases to eliminate Nigeria’s long-standing metering gap.
He described the free distribution of meters as unprecedented in the country’s history, emphasizing that no customer—regardless of electricity band—should be charged.
“Nobody should collect a dime. It is illegal and will be treated as an offence,” the minister warned.
Adelabu expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of installation but remained optimistic that within a few years, all homes, businesses, and institutions would be fully metered. He said proper metering would bring transparency, fairness in billing, and improved revenue for the power sector.
To curb extortion, the minister announced the establishment of customer complaint desks and a monitoring system involving the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and state regulators. Nigerians were encouraged to report any demand for illegal payments, promising that confirmed cases would be publicly prosecuted to deter others.
He also disclosed plans to create a national register for unmetered customers to speed up installations and improve data accuracy in collaboration with DisCos.
Reaffirming the commitment of the Tinubu administration, Adelabu said the programme demonstrates strong political will to resolve decades-long challenges in the power sector and restore financial stability.
He added that the initiative covers all categories of consumers, stressing that no group would be excluded based on electricity bands.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayo Gbeleyi, assured Nigerians that new guidelines from NERC would soon compel DisCos to allow unhindered access for meter installation. He noted that each meter is specially configured for specific DisCos with built-in anti-theft systems.
Also speaking, Mojisola Abdul, Chairman of Mojec, revealed that nearly 150,000 free meters have already been installed and urged consumers not to pay anyone. She added that a new mobile registration system would enable eligible customers to receive meters within three days of registration.
Addressing concerns over past delays and payments, Adelabu admitted that previous shortages and policies had created distrust. However, he assured Nigerians that the current programme has enough supply and clear procedures to prevent past challenges.
The minister also inspected the National Meter Test Station in Oshodi, where meters are certified for quality and safety, stressing the importance of standards compliance.
Currently, over five million electricity consumers in Nigeria remain under estimated billing, a situation the Federal Government says this massive metering initiative is designed to eliminate permanently.
