Making presidential metering initiative fail-proof
Sir: Over the past few years, the presidency has launched multiple metering initiatives, beginning with the National Mass Metering Initiative (NMMI) in October 2020. This programme was designed to end
Sir: Over the past few years, the presidency has launched multiple metering initiatives, beginning with the National Mass Metering Initiative (NMMI) in October 2020. This programme was designed to end estimated billing, reduce revenue losses, and increase meter penetration by providing free meters to electricity consumers. Initial funding was provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), enabling a rapid rollout of one million meters to kick-start the scheme. While this phase made significant progress, it did not fully reach its target before transitioning into the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme. Under MAP, the cost of meters is amortized over time, typically up to 10 years, through a Meter Service Charge included in the customer’s electricity bill.
Before these reforms, only about 39.4 percent of Nigerian electricity consumers were metered. By October 2025, this figure had risen to 56 percent, reflecting an increase of approximately 16 percent within five years. At the current pace, it would still take about 13 more years to achieve full national metering, assuming population growth remains constant. Rural metering rates remain especially poor, reflecting weak supervision of Discos and their tendency to prioritize Band A and high-paying customers.
In franchises such as Jos Electricity Distribution Company, JED, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, KAEDCO, Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC), and Kano Electricity Distribution Company, KEDCO, metering rates are as low as 29 percent, significantly dragging down national performance. For instance, in Q2 2025, Yola Electricity Distribution Company installed only 2,000 meters, while Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company installed over 45,000 during the same period. Meter deployment should never be determined by wealth, geography, or religion, as this undermines the very objective of government interventions. NERC’s metering performance reports clearly explain why gaps and regional disparities persist.
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as part of his commitment to protecting ordinary Nigerians from the injustice of estimated billing, launched the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI). The initiative, comprising two existing programs (the World Bank-supported DISREP, and NERC’s Meter Acquisition Fund) as well as a new, flagship stream (known as PMI-SGDL), aims to deploy over seven million meters nationwide, eliminate arbitrary billing, restore public trust, and ensure transparent and fair electricity pricing.
For accountability, PMI should operate a dedicated public platform that displays real-time data on meters deployed by state, Disco, installer, and vendor.
A useful precedent exists. When the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) was launched in 2023, some regions accused the government of regional bias. In response, the Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, published detailed state-by-state and institution-by-institution statistics, backed by official confirmations from universities. Within months, the controversy disappeared. The same transparency model should apply to PMI.
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For the Presidential Metering Initiative to truly fulfil the President’s Renewed Hope energy vision, it must be designed to be sabotage-proof. This requires more than simply distributing meters. An independent monitoring team must physically verify each installation, certify workmanship, and seal every meter. NERC’s penalties must be enforced without compromise.
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Mass metering must also go hand in hand with mass network modernization. As demonstrated in Shomolu, upgrading cables and transformers alongside meter installation converts billing reform into genuine service improvement, while drastically cutting technical losses. Equally important is radical transparency through a real-time performance dashboard that tracks every Disco and every contractor.
Most importantly, the PMI must deliberately prioritize underperforming regions and Discos where metering rates remain below 30 percent. A national programme must not deepen geographic inequality. Only through this integrated, vigilant, and transparent framework can PMI accelerate progress, protect public investment, and finally liberate the 45 percent of Nigerians still trapped under the tyranny of estimated billing.
