The Federal Government, on Sunday, disclosed that it has secured the sum of ₦700bn from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to fund a large-scale metering initiative, to deploy two million meters annually over the next five years.
The development, it said, was part of the newly launched Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), aimed at closing Nigeria’s persistent metering gap and improving electricity service delivery nationwide.
To this end, it announced that a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) has been established to oversee the implementation of the PMI, which will complement the ongoing Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP).
According to the Federal Ministry of Power, the first tender for the initial batch of two million meters under the PMI is expected to be released in the third quarter of 2025.
A statement by Mr Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations to the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu,
also announced that the Federal Government is set to receive the first batch of 3,205,101 meters under the DISREP by 2026.
The meters, the statement said, would be delivered through a combination of procurement models: 1,437,501 meters via International Competitive Bid 1 (ICB1), 217,600 meters through National Competitive Bid (NCB), and 1,550,000 meters through ICB2.
It added that the first 75,000 meters under ICB1 are expected to arrive in April 2025, followed by another 200,000 units in May 2025.
“In addition to the DISREP, the ₦700bn Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) is another key intervention designed to accelerate metering. The initiative, which has already secured ₦700bn from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), is structured to ensure large-scale meter procurement and deployment.
“A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) has been established to oversee the implementation of the initiative. The government has set a target of deploying two million meters annually for five years, with the tender for the first batch of two million meters expected to be released by the third quarter of 2025.
‘The Distribution Sector Recovery Program (DISREP) is set to deliver 3,205,101 meters by 2026. This will be achieved through different procurement models, including 1,437,501 meters through International Competitive Bid 1 (ICB1), 217,600 meters through National Competitive Bid (NCB), and 1,550,000 meters through International Competitive Bid 2 (ICB2).
“As part of this plan, the first batch of 75,000 meters under ICB1 is expected by April 2025, followed by the second batch of 200,000 meters in May 2025”, the statement stated.
Responding to recent media reports that painted a gloomy picture of Nigeria’s metering efforts, the FG insisted that significant progress is being made.
“While challenges persist, the facts tell a more balanced story one of sustained effort, financial commitment, and structured implementation plans by the Federal Government of Nigeria to close the metering gap,” the statement stated further.
It revealed that as of December 2024, 5,502,460 customers were metered, accounting for about 55 per cent of Nigeria’s 10,114,060 active electricity customers.
“In 2024 alone, 572,050 meters were installed. While the government acknowledges the existing metering gap, it is actively working to close it as quickly as possible. The fact remains that a sizeable portion of active electricity users already have meters, countering the exaggerated portrayal of an industry in crisis,” it added.
Despite year-on-year variations, the FG said, the sector has maintained a yearly average of 668,000-meter installations.
“The government believes that structured financing, alongside initiatives like DISREP and PMI, will boost this average significantly in the coming years.
“With the ongoing DISREP and PMI initiatives, Nigeria’s metering landscape is set to experience significant improvement before the end of the year.
“The focus should be on the execution of these well-structured plans rather than a blanket critique that overlooks the real progress being made”, it cautioned.
