FG to purchase 10 million prepaid meters for distribution across Nigeria in 2025 

The federal government is set to take a major step towards improving the country’s electricity billing system with plans to purchase 10 million prepaid meters for distribution nationwide in 2025.

This initiative, announced by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, aims to address long-standing issues with estimated billing, which has left many Nigerian consumers frustrated and overcharged.

During the commissioning of mobile power substations in Oyo and Ogun States, Adelabu shared details of the ambitious project, highlighting that the first batch of 2 million prepaid meters will be distributed to consumers before the end of the first quarter of 2025 as part of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).

Earlier this month, the Presidency tasked the Minister of Power to prioritize the acceleration of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) as part of ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s power sector.

This call was made during a meeting between Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination and Head of the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU), and Bayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, Permanent Secretary, and Heads of Departments and Agencies within the Ministry of Power.

According to Bala Usman, “This is part of the President Tinubu administration’s ongoing efforts to ensure continuous monitoring and improvement in the delivery of key ministerial mandates.” 

According to the statement, the engagement, conducted as part of the Tinubu administration’s agenda for impactful governance, focused on the Q1–Q3 Performance Assessment Report regarding Presidential Priorities and Ministerial Deliverables.

One of the key issues that has plagued Nigeria’s electricity sector is the reliance on estimated billing, which often results in inflated charges for consumers.

This amendment supplements the electricity bill, which authorizes states, businesses, and individuals to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity.

The purchase and distribution of 10 million prepaid meters is just one component of a series of reforms aimed at transforming Nigeria’s power sector.

The introduction of prepaid meters, analysts note, will also help in reducing instances of power theft, which has been another issue affecting the country’s power supply and distribution system.