FG Bans DisCos and Installers from Charging Customers for Electricity Meters
Lagos, Nigeria — Friday, January 23, 2026
The Federal Government has issued a sweeping directive banning electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and accredited meter installers from collecting any form of payment from consumers for the provision or installation of electricity meters.
The order was announced by Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu on Thursday during a high‑profile inspection of a fresh consignment of smart electricity meters at the APM Terminals in Apapa, Lagos. The meters form part of a broader nationwide rollout under the World Bank‑funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), which aims to close Nigeria’s persistent metering gap and eliminate estimated billing.
Under the new policy, all meters imported and distributed under the programme must be installed completely free of charge to electricity consumers — regardless of tariff bands or location. Any DisCo official, installer, or agent found demanding or accepting money from customers in relation to meter provision or installation will be deemed to be committing an offence and will face prosecution under applicable laws.
“These meters are to be installed and distributed to consumers free of charge — free of charge! Nobody should collect a dime from any consumer,” Minister Adelabu said, warning that extortion attempts would not be tolerated and that verified cases would be pursued through the courts.
The government described the ban as part of a wider strategy to restore transparency and fairness in the power sector, improve revenue collection, and boost consumer confidence in electricity service delivery. Consumers are being urged to report incidents of illegal payment demands through official complaint channels managed by the Ministry of Power, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and state regulatory bodies.
The latest shipment of approximately 500,000 smart meters is one of several tranches expected to arrive as part of the DISREP initiative, which plans to import over 3.4 million units in total. While earlier batches have already been deployed in some regions, the enforcement of the ban marks a significant step in the government’s commitment to ending a long‑standing practice whereby customers were previously charged for meters and installations.
