The Federal Government don drop hammer say nobody for Nigeria suppose pay one kobo to collect or install electricity meter, onto say dey don ban meter charges.
FG don warn all DisCos and installers say anybody wey try collect money go face full prosecution, no excuse, na weytin hitvibz dey yan be dat.
FG bans meter charges: free smart meters don land
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, yarn this one clear-clear as e inspect newly imported free smart meters for Apapa, Lagos.
The meters come through World Bank–funded DISREP programme, and dem plan na to stop estimated billing wahala once and for all.
According to am, this one na first time for Nigeria history wey government go distribute meters completely free.
No DisCo staff, no installer—direct or indirect—get right to ask consumer for money. If dem try am, na offence be that.
DisCos prosecution warning: pay no kobo, report anybody
Adelabu talk say about 3.4 million meters dey come in two batches. First batch na 1.43 million, and close to 1 million don already land.
Out of that number, almost 150,000 meters don install already across the country, with another 500,000 fresh ones just arrive.
He explain say once everybody get meter, billing go clear, people go trust the system, and payment go increase for power sector.
FG no hide this matter—dem don tell Nigerians openly say meter installation na free, and anybody wey collect money go answer case.
Government also go set up customer complaint desk. If any DisCo staff or installer dey extort people, Nigerians fit report dem.
NERC and state regulators go investigate, and once dem confirm am, dem go prosecute the person and publicise am make others fear.
Adelabu add say this programme cover all customers—Band A, B, or C no matter. The band system na temporary arrangement; free meters go reach everybody.
Director-General of BPE, Ayo Gbeleyi, add say NERC soon go release new rules to stop DisCos from delaying installations. Government dey monitor everything with trackers and dashboards to make sure meter deployment no slow.
Chairman of Mojec, Mojisola Abdul, also confirm say meters wey dem dey install na 100% free.
Em warn Nigerians make dem no give anybody money. With mobile registration, once person register, meter fit install within three days.
FG admit say before-before, meter matter get delay and payment issue. But now, meter plenty and payment don cancel.
Another 1.55 million meters still dey come for second phase. According to Adelabu, all past obstacles don clear.
The minister even check National Meter Test Station for Oshodi, where dem dey test meters to ensure standard. For now, over five million Nigerians still dey suffer estimated billing—but FG say that era don dey end.
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Last Updated on January 23, 2026 7:07 pm by Hitvibz Media
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