The Nigerian government, in collaboration with state governments, is set to spend N100 billion to import electricity meters as part of efforts to address the country’s metering gap.
Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu revealed this during a recent address in Ibadan, Oyo State, stating that the funding would come under the Presidential Meter Initiative (PMI).
Adelabu explained that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is actively working to close the meter gap in Nigeria through several initiatives.
“We have made significant progress in securing the funds under the PMI, with both the federal and state governments contributing,” he said. “Currently, we have identified approximately N100 billion for the procurement of meters.”
Adelabu further disclosed that the World Bank would support Nigeria by providing nearly two million meters over the next two years through the Distribution Sector Recovery Program (DISREP). Of the $500 million allocated for the DISREP, $200 million will be dedicated to purchasing electricity meters, a process that is now at an advanced stage.
“We have issued contract awards with the World Bank’s support, and it is now a matter of bringing in meters from overseas and local sources,” he added. “Given the capacity requirements, we cannot rely solely on local manufacturers; we must also source from other suppliers where costs may be lower.”
Adelabu also defended the price increase of single-phase electricity meters, which has risen from about N80,000 to over N120,000.
It is worth recalling that last year, the Association of Meter Manufacturers and Assemblers of Nigeria (AMMON) opposed the Nigerian government’s decision to take a $155 million World Bank loan to import electricity meters.
Earlier this year, Adelabu faced criticism for awarding a N40 billion meter import contract to De Haryor Global, a foreign firm.
According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s latest report, Nigeria has 12 million electricity consumers, of which just over five million are metered.
