Nigerians Spent N84bn on Meters in 2025

Electricity consumers in Nigeria paid at least ₦84.36 billion for meters in 2025 under the Meter Assets Programme (MAP), according to data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The programme allows customers to pay for meters, with refunds provided by their Distribution Companies (DisCos) in electricity tokens spread over 10 years.

An average price of ₦130,000 per meter was used in the calculation, though costs vary by supplier, with three-phase meters priced above ₦200,000.

NERC’s quarterly report showed that 965,303 meters were deployed in 2025, mostly in the second half of the year. Of these, 648,972 (67.23%) came through MAP, followed by 125,025 via the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF), and 88,553 under the World Bank-funded Distribution Sector Recovery Program (DISREP).

Other channels included 77,967 vendor-financed meters and 5,892 DisCos-financed meters. Quarterly breakdowns revealed steady increases, with the highest deployment of 323,864 meters in Q4.

Despite government assurances that DISREP meters are free, reports indicate they are being prioritised for Band A customers, who pay cost-reflective tariffs. An Abuja DisCo official said: “We prioritise Band A customers because they are critical to the financial stability of the electricity market.”

Consumers, however, complain of delays and alleged bribery in meter allocation. One Abuja resident said he applied in January but has yet to receive a meter, adding: “Many people told me they had to give bribes to fast-track the process.”

Government officials insist the DISREP meters are free. BPE Director-General Ayodeji Gbeleyi and NERC Chairman Musliu Oseni reiterated that customers should resist paying for them, stressing that any extortion is likely from installers or staff, not management.