FG to Begin Deployment of 3.2 Million Electricity Meters in April 2025 Amid Growing Criticism Over Slow Progress – Adelabu
Amid growing criticism over the slow pace of meter deployment in Nigeria’s power sector, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has announced that the Federal Government is expecting the first batch of the 3,205,101 electricity meters ordered in 2023.
In a statement released on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Tunji Bolaji, Adelabu disclosed that 75,000 meters under the International Competitive Bid 1 (ICB1) will arrive by April 2025, with an additional 200,000 meters scheduled for May 2025.
“While challenges persist, the facts tell a more balanced story—one of sustained effort, financial commitment, and structured implementation,” Adelabu said.
He emphasized that significant strides have been made, noting that as of December 2024, a total of 5,502,460 customers had been metered, representing 55% of Nigeria’s 10,114,060 active electricity users. In 2024 alone, 572,050 meters were installed, with the sector maintaining a yearly average of around 668,000 meters.
To further close the metering gap, the government is relying on two major initiatives—the Distribution Sector Recovery Program (DISREP) and the ₦700 billion Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI).
Under DISREP, 3,205,101 meters are expected by 2026, sourced through multiple procurement models: 1,437,501 via ICB1, 217,600 through National Competitive Bid (NCB), and 1,550,000 through ICB2. The first batch of 75,000 meters from ICB1 is due in April 2025, followed by 200,000 in May.
Additionally, the PMI is targeting the deployment of two million meters annually over five years. Backed by ₦700 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), the initiative will be managed by a newly formed Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), with the first batch expected to go to tender by Q3 2025.
Adelabu stressed that while the metering gap remains a concern, projections suggesting it will take over a decade to close are misleading. “With the current structured interventions, Nigeria’s metering landscape is poised for significant improvement before the year ends,” he stated.
He urged critics to focus on the tangible progress and roadmap in place rather than portray an industry in crisis.
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