The Federal Government has imposed a strict nationwide ban on electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and meter installers collecting any fees from consumers for the installation of electricity meters.
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, announced the directive on Thursday during an inspection of newly imported smart meters at APM Terminals in Apapa Port, Lagos. The meters form part of a major shipment under the World Bank-funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), aimed at closing Nigeria's estimated 7 million metering gap, ending estimated billing, and improving transparency and revenue collection in the power sector.
Adelabu emphasized that all meters procured under DISREP, totaling 3.4 million in the current phase—must be distributed and installed completely free of charge to all consumers, regardless of tariff band or location.
He described any demand for payment as "an illegality" and a punishable offence."It is illegal for any DisCo or indirect installer to request a dime before installing smart meters for consumers," the minister stated.
"These meters are to be installed and distributed to consumers free of charge—free of charge! Nobody should collect money from any consumer."The minister warned that DisCo officials, meter manufacturers, or installers found extorting money would face prosecution and sanctions.
He urged consumers to report such incidents through whistleblower channels, promising that verified cases would lead to legal action as a deterrent.The latest delivery includes about 500,000 smart meters from Chinese manufacturer Sanxing, bringing the total received under DISREP to around 2.5 million (with previous batches already in deployment, though installation has so far reached only about 150,000 units).
This initiative is part of broader reforms to deploy millions of meters annually over the next five years, supported by federal funding and international partnerships.The policy builds on ongoing efforts to protect consumers from exploitative practices and boost the financial viability of the power sector.
Consumers encountering demands for payment during DISREP meter installations are encouraged to report to the Ministry of Power, NERC, or relevant authorities.
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