The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved ₦28 billion for electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to provide free prepaid meters to customers across the country.
The approval, issued under the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) Tranche B, took effect on October 6, 2025, and is part of efforts to end estimated billing and close Nigeria’s seven-million-meter gap.
According to the order, the ₦28 billion will be shared among the 11 DisCos, including Ikeja Electric (₦5.47 billion), Eko DisCo (₦4.36 billion), Ibadan DisCo (₦4.26 billion), and Abuja DisCo (₦3.31 billion). Smaller firms like Yola and Jos DisCos will receive less than ₦300 million each.
NERC said the meters will be installed at no cost to customers, beginning with Band A and Band B users who currently enjoy the most stable power supply. DisCos are required to start procurement and deployment immediately and must complete installations by December 2025.
- Nigeria’s First Ebola Patient Identified as Wife of Swiss Diplomat as Authorities Probe Source of Infection
Nigeria’s latest Ebola case has been traced to a 42-year-old… - MURIC Seeks Police Probe into Alleged Killing of Man Inside Oyo Mosque
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has petitioned the police over…Read More “MURIC Seeks Police Probe into Alleged Killing of Man Inside Oyo Mosque” »
The Commission warned that any DisCo that delays rollout due to internal lapses or fails to meet the deadline will face sanctions.
The free-metering programme forms part of the Presidential Metering Initiative, designed to boost transparency, cut energy theft, and rebuild public confidence in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
