The FG bans meter installation charges in Nigeria for electricity customers, and anyone found charging money for meter installation will be punished. The Federal Government has banned electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and installers from charging customers any payment for installing meters. This rule applies to smart meters brought in under the World Bank-funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), and officials who ignore it could face prosecution.

Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu made this clear during an inspection of newly imported smart meters at Apapa Port in Lagos. He said the meters must be installed free of charge to all electricity consumers, regardless of their category. “It is an offence for any DisCo official or installer to request a dime from consumers before installation,” he said, stressing that the government will take action against anyone who breaks this rule.

Under DISREP, the government has already brought in about 500,000 new smart meters, adding to earlier deliveries. Nearly one million smart meters from the first batch have already arrived in Nigeria, and around 150,000 have been installed nationwide. The programme aims to import about 3.4 million meters in two phases to help close the long-standing metering gap in the country’s power sector.

The FG bans meter installation charges in Nigeria because the government wants to ensure fair and transparent billing for electricity users. Adelabu said that free meter installation will help make billing clearer and encourage more people to pay for the electricity they use. He also said the government will set up ways for consumers to report any extortion attempts, including a customer complaint desk.

To make sure the rule is followed, the government is working with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and state regulators to monitor installations. Mr. Adelabu said that if a DisCo official or installer is found asking for money, they will be prosecuted publicly to deter others. “Nobody should collect money from any consumer. It is an illegality,” he warned.

Officials also noted that delays in installing meters are being addressed through better data management and customer registration systems. Nigerians can register to receive free meters faster, and the government hopes all households, businesses, and institutions will be fully metered in the coming years.

The move comes as part of a larger effort to improve electricity billing and collections in Nigeria, where a major problem has been the widespread use of estimated billing due to a lack of meters. The free meter roll-out under DISREP and other metering initiatives is intended to make the power sector more efficient and reliable.