Author: Gist Correspondent

The Federal Government has banned electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and their agents from collecting any form of payment for electricity meter installation, warning that officials or installers who extort customers will face prosecution.

The Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, issued the directive on Thursday during an on-site 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, stressing that any demand for payment constitutes an offence.

Adelabu, who was received by the Area Controller of the Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Emmanuel Oshoba, expressed satisfaction over the arrival of another batch of 500,000 smart meters. He said the consignment forms part of the Federal Government’s plan to import about 3.4 million meters in two phases, noting that close to one million meters have already been received, with about 150,000 installed nationwide.

According to the minister, the free installation policy applies to all electricity consumers, irrespective of service band. He warned that neither DisCo officials nor third-party installers are permitted to collect money directly or indirectly from beneficiaries, adding that such acts would be treated as illegal and punishable under the law.

Adelabu acknowledged dissatisfaction with the slow pace of metering but expressed optimism that, within a few years, all households, businesses, and institutions would be fully metered. He said widespread metering would enhance transparency, fairness in billing, and improve revenue collection and liquidity in the power sector.

The minister disclosed that the government would closely monitor meter deployment, open customer complaint desks, and rely on regulatory agencies, including the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and state regulators, to track and investigate reports of extortion. He added that a register would also be created for unmetered customers to accelerate installations.

He assured Nigerians that confirmed cases of extortion would be prosecuted and publicised as a deterrent, insisting that no DisCo or installer would be allowed to frustrate government efforts to reform the power sector. Adelabu emphasised that the Tinubu administration is determined to resolve long-standing liquidity and metering challenges through bold reforms and sustained political will.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi, said the bureau is coordinating DISREP implementation and monitoring DisCos to ensure compliance. He disclosed that NERC would soon issue new guidelines to guarantee unhindered access for meter installations, adding that the meters are DisCo-specific and embedded with anti-theft technology.

Similarly, the Chairman of Mojec, Mrs. Mojisola Abdul, confirmed that about 150,000 meters have already been installed free of charge, urging consumers not to pay anyone. She said a mobile registration initiative would enable customers who register to receive meters within three days.

Adelabu also visited the National Meter Test Station in Oshodi, where meters are tested by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, noting that the programme is critical to addressing Nigeria’s over five million customers currently on estimated billing.