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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Energy & Infrastructure

Nigeria deploys 668,000 electricity meters, aiming to end estimated billing

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Nigeria has deployed 668,000 electricity meters, covering 60% of active customers, to reduce the metering gap.
  • The initiative is part of the $500 million World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme and the Presidential Metering Initiative.
  • The government aims to end arbitrary estimated billing for registered electricity consumers across the country.

Nigeria's Federal Government has achieved a significant milestone in its electricity reform efforts, deploying 668,000 electricity meters to customers' premises. This deployment covers approximately 60% of active electricity consumers, marking substantial progress in the nation's bid to close the electricity metering gap and eradicate the practice of arbitrary estimated billing.

On various issues, we provided updates on meter deployment under Phase 1 of the World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme. We have implemented 60 percent 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.

— Ayodeji Ariyo GbeleyiReporting on the progress of meter deployment under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme.

The metering drive is being executed under Phase 1 of the $500 million World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme. This program is complemented by other initiatives, including the Presidential Metering Initiative. According to Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), out of 1,033,000 meters delivered under the program, 668,000 have been successfully installed.

"On various issues, we provided updates on meter deployment under Phase 1 of the World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme. We have implemented 60 percent 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," Gbeleyi stated. The overarching goal is to ensure that registered customers nationwide are billed accurately based on actual consumption, rather than estimates.

Some fine-tuning is required here and there in the implementation of that Act.

— Ayodeji Ariyo GbeleyiAcknowledging the need for adjustments in the implementation of the Electricity Act.

Furthermore, the implementation of the Electricity Act has seen progress, with about 17 states establishing State Electricity Regulatory Commissions since April 2024. Akwa Ibom State was among the latest to establish its commission in July. However, Gbeleyi noted that certain aspects of the law's implementation still require refinement. The National Council on Privatisation has directed key stakeholders, including the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Power, to engage in discussions regarding proposed amendments to the law to streamline and harmonize the federal government's position.

Council has directed that stakeholders, led by the Attorney General of the Federation, the Honourable Minister of Power, the Special Adviser on Power, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Oil and Gas, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the BPE and all other critical stakeholders, should engage constructively so as to streamline and harmonise the Federal Government’s position in terms of

— Ayodeji Ariyo GbeleyiDetailing the directive for stakeholders to discuss proposed amendments to the Electricity Act.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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