The Federal Government has banned electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and installers from collecting any form of payment for electricity meters, warning that any official found extorting customers will be prosecuted.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, issued the warning on Thursday during an on-site inspection of newly imported smart meters at APM Terminals, Apapa, Lagos.
Adelabu said the meters were procured under the World Bank–funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) and must be installed for consumers free of charge, stressing that any demand for payment constitutes an offence.
The minister, who was received by the Area Controller of the Nigerian Customs Service, Apapa Port Command, Emmanuel Oshoba, expressed satisfaction with the arrival of another tranche of 500,000 smart meters under the programme.
He said the meters would be distributed to all electricity customers, regardless of their tariff band.
“It is unprecedented that these meters are being installed and distributed to consumers free of charge—free of charge! Nobody should collect money from any consumer. It is an illegality and an offence for any DisCo official or installer, direct or indirect, to request a dime,” Adelabu said.
According to him, the Federal Government is importing about 3.4 million meters in two batches under DISREP. The first batch consists of 1.43 million meters, out of which nearly one million have already been received, while about 150,000 have been installed nationwide.
“What we have today is close to 500,000 smart meters. This marks the beginning of the complete elimination of the meter gap in the Nigerian power sector,” he added, while expressing dissatisfaction with the current pace of metering.
Adelabu expressed optimism that within a few years, all households, businesses, and institutions would be fully metered, making billing more transparent, fair, and just, and improving consumers’ willingness to pay.
He said the government would closely monitor installations and open customer complaint desks to receive reports of extortion, adding that confirmed cases would lead to prosecution, regardless of the status of those involved.
“Extortion will not be tolerated. Any confirmed case will be publicised and serve as a deterrent to others,” the minister warned.
He added that the Tinubu administration was addressing a decades-long liquidity challenge in the power sector through bold reforms backed by political will.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayo Gbeleyi, said the bureau coordinates DISREP implementation and serves on the boards of all 11 DisCos.
Gbeleyi disclosed that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) would soon issue a new circular outlining protocols DisCos must follow to ensure unhindered meter installations.
“We are monitoring deployment through dashboards and trackers. The meters are DisCo-specific, embedded with anti-theft protocols, and cannot be installed outside their designated areas,” he said.
The Chairman of Mojec, Mojisola Abdul, said nearly 150,000 meters had already been installed free of charge, urging consumers not to pay anyone for meter installation.
“If you register today, your meter will be installed within three days,” she said.
Responding to concerns over delays and previous payments made by customers, Adelabu acknowledged past challenges but assured Nigerians that the new programme would eliminate such complications due to adequate meter supply and free installation.
The minister also visited the National Meter Test Station in Oshodi, where meters are tested by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency to ensure they meet required standards.
Nigeria currently has over five million electricity customers under estimated billing.
