Nigeria’s government has issued a stern warning to electricity companies and installers, declaring that demanding payment for new smart meters is now a criminal offence.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, announced the ban on Thursday, stating that any official found extorting customers would face prosecution. The move is part of an ambitious federal drive to end “estimated billing”—a controversial practice where customers are charged for electricity they may not have used.
The government has taken delivery of nearly one million smart meters, funded by the World Bank, which are to be distributed and installed across the country at no cost to the consumer.
‘Free means free’
Speaking during an inspection of the newly imported shipments at the Apapa Port in Lagos, Mr Adelabu was emphatic that the era of paying for meters is over.
“Nobody should collect money from any consumer. It is an illegality,” the minister said. “It is an offence for the officials of distribution companies (DisCos) to request a dime before installation; even the indirect installers cannot ask for a dime.”
To ensure compliance, the government is setting up a dedicated “customer complaint desk” and a tracking dashboard. The minister urged Nigerians to provide “tip-offs” regarding any staff, regardless of their seniority, who attempt to charge for the service.
Closing the ‘meter gap’
Nigeria currently has an estimated five million customers who do not have meters and are billed based on guesswork by DisCos. This lack of transparency has led to widespread “billing anger” and a refusal by many to pay their bills, starving the power sector of much-needed liquidity.
The current rollout is part of the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP):
- Phase One: 1.43 million meters (one million already received).
- Phase Two: A further 1.55 million meters are expected shortly.
- Total Target: 3.4 million smart meters to be deployed nationwide.
Anti-theft technology
The government is also introducing new technology to prevent the resale or theft of these free units. Ayo Gbeleyi, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, explained that the meters are “vendor-locked.”
“A meter configured for Eko DisCo [in Lagos] cannot be installed in Ibadan,” he said, adding that each unit has an embedded anti-theft protocol and the specific DisCo’s name inscribed on the hardware.
Analysis: A promise or a reality?
By Segun Ojumu Africa Eye News, Abuja
For years, Nigerians have been told that meters are free, only to be met with “administrative charges” or “installation fees” from local officials. This time, the government says it is “walking the talk” with a massive influx of physical stock and a 3-day installation guarantee.
However, the success of this plan depends on the “cleanliness” of customer data and the willingness of DisCos—who have historically benefited from estimated billing—to cooperate. If the government can truly eliminate the 5-million-meter gap, it could finally bring some stability to Nigeria’s notoriously fragile power sector.
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