Federal Government to Roll Out 1.56 Million Electricity Meters Across Nigeria by End of 2026

The Federal Government has announced plans to deploy 1.56 million electricity meters to households and businesses across Nigeria before the end of 2026, following the resolution of a legal dispute that had delayed the country’s metering programme for several months.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, during a media interactive session in Lagos. According to the minister, the government has reached an agreement with the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria, paving the way for the resumption of nationwide meter procurement, supply, and installation.

The dispute arose after the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria challenged aspects of the Federal Government’s metering programme in court, seeking greater participation for local manufacturers in the supply of electricity meters. The legal action resulted in a court injunction that effectively halted procurement and installation activities for approximately six months.

Tegbe explained that the government remains committed to supporting local industries in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy, which encourages the patronage of locally manufactured goods. However, he noted that the government must also ensure there is sufficient production capacity to meet the country’s growing demand for electricity meters.

According to the minister, the government engaged extensively with AMMON over the past few weeks, leading to an amicable resolution of the dispute. As part of the agreement, the association withdrew the court injunction, allowing the metering programme to move forward.

With the legal obstacles removed, the government will now begin the rollout of 1.56 million smart electricity meters, a major step toward reducing Nigeria’s longstanding metering gap and improving the accuracy and transparency of electricity billing.

Although the minister did not disclose the specific terms of the new agreement with the local manufacturers, he confirmed that the nationwide rollout will be implemented with their full cooperation.

The deployment of additional smart meters is expected to significantly reduce the reliance on estimated billing, one of the major concerns repeatedly raised by electricity consumers across the country. Accurate metering is also expected to improve customer confidence, strengthen revenue collection for electricity distribution companies, and promote greater accountability within the power sector.

The announcement comes shortly after the World Bank identified the legal dispute involving AMMON as one of the biggest implementation risks facing the $500 million Nigeria Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP). The programme is designed to improve the efficiency, financial sustainability, and overall performance of Nigeria’s electricity distribution sector.

The Federal Government believes the resolution of the dispute marks an important milestone in its broader efforts to reform the power sector. By combining support for local manufacturers with strategic international procurement where necessary, the administration aims to accelerate universal metering, eliminate estimated billing, and improve electricity service delivery for millions of Nigerians.