These metres are to be deployed and installed freely. Anybody asking you to bring money should be reported.”
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has clarified that electricity metres provided under the $500 million World Bank-funded Distribution Recovery Programme (DISREP) are free and must be installed at no cost to customers.
BPE Director-General, Dr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi, stated this in Abuja during a media briefing on DISREP, warning electricity consumers to resist and report any attempt by Distribution Companies (DisCos) or their agents to demand payment.
“The Federal Government provided these meters to eliminate estimated billing in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry,” Gbeleyi said.
Responding to questions on the issue, the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Musliu Oseni, confirmed that the Federal Government borrowed funds to procure the meters and directed DisCos to distribute and install them free of charge.
“These meters are to be deployed and installed freely. Anybody asking you to bring money should be reported. Most of the time, the extortion is between installers or field staff and customers, not management,” Oseni said.
DISREP comprises two $250 million components: an Investment Project Financing facility for the bulk procurement of 3.2 million smart meters, and a Programme-for-Results facility. Gbeleyi disclosed that about 182,000 meters have already been installed, noting that while the metres are primarily for unmetered customers, DisCos are permitted to use up to 20 per cent to replace faulty or expired meters.
Oseni explained that unlike metres procured directly by operators—which customers ultimately pay for—the cost of DISREP metres has been fully absorbed by the Federal Government through the World Bank facility. He added that subsidy and tariff reforms would evolve as states assume greater control of electricity markets.
The Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Abdulaziz Sule, said Nigeria’s metering gap has reduced from about 10 million to 5 million, with government meeting 75 per cent of DISREP requirements and 30 per cent of the metres already delivered into the country.
Also speaking, the Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA), Dr. Peter Asuben, said the agency tested 576,208 metres by December 2025 and an additional 18,716 in January 2026.
Representing the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Dr. Adedayo Olowoniyi said DISREP was introduced to strengthen electricity distribution and pledged that the current administration would close the metering gap.
Managing directors of Abuja, Eko, Ibadan, Kaduna and Yola DisCos, among others, attended the briefing, with DisCo heads reiterating that DISREP metres are free and condemning extortion by unscrupulous individuals.