The Federal Government has announced that about 60 per cent of active electricity customers across Nigeria have now been metered, as authorities intensify efforts to close the country’s electricity metering gap and end arbitrary estimated billing.
The government said the progress is being achieved through ongoing meter deployment under Phase 1 of the $500 million World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), alongside initiatives such as the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI).
The update was disclosed at the second 2026 meeting of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.
Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, said the council was briefed on progress made in meter deployment and other activities within the power sector.
According to Gbeleyi, 1,033,000 meters have been delivered under the programme, with 668,000 already installed at customers’ premises.
“We have implemented 60 per cent 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,” he said.
17 States Establish Electricity Regulators
The BPE boss also provided an update on the implementation of the Electricity Act, particularly the transfer of electricity regulatory responsibilities to states.
He said about 17 states had established their own electricity regulatory commissions since the Act took effect in April 2024.
Akwa Ibom State became the latest state to establish its electricity regulatory commission in July 2026.
Gbeleyi, however, acknowledged that some aspects of the transition require further adjustments to ensure smooth implementation of the legislation.
He said the NCP had directed key stakeholders, including the Attorney-General of the Federation, Minister of Power, Special Adviser to the President on Power, Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), BPE and other relevant agencies, to work together on proposed amendments to the Electricity Act.
The objective, he said, is to harmonise the Federal Government’s position and address areas requiring clarification or modification.
FG Promises Better Value for Nigerians
Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the government was working collaboratively to ensure Nigerians receive better value from electricity and other critical sectors 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 NCP meeting was attended by senior government officials, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Minister of Power, the Attorney-General’s representative, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and private-sector members of the council.
The government said efforts to expand electricity metering, strengthen regulation and improve service delivery remain central to its broader reforms in the power sector.