The Federal Government has issued a firm directive barring electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and their installers from charging customers for electricity meters, warning that any official or contractor caught demanding payment will face prosecution.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made this clear during an inspection of newly imported smart meters at APM Terminals in Apapa, Lagos. According to him, the meters—procured under the World Bank–supported Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP)—are to be installed for electricity consumers at no cost whatsoever.
Adelabu stressed that the free installation policy applies to all customers, regardless of their electricity tariff band. He described any attempt to collect money for meter installation as illegal, adding that both DisCo officials and third-party installers would be held accountable if found extorting consumers.
“This is not optional. These meters must be installed free of charge. No consumer should pay a kobo,” the minister said, emphasising that the move is aimed at improving accurate billing, transparency, and revenue collection across the power sector.
The power minister expressed satisfaction with the arrival of another batch of 500,000 smart meters, noting that they form part of a larger shipment under the DISREP initiative. He explained that the Federal Government plans to import about 3.4 million meters in total, delivered in two phases. From the first batch of 1.43 million meters, close to one million units have already arrived in the country.
So far, Adelabu disclosed that nearly 150,000 meters have been installed across various distribution companies nationwide, with deployment expected to accelerate as more shipments are cleared and distributed.
The government believes the free meter rollout will not only protect consumers from estimated billing and exploitation but also strengthen trust in the electricity market and improve overall sector performance.
