The Federal Government’s free electricity metering programme, backed by a $500m World Bank loan, has recorded only 217,784 meters as against its planned 3.2 million smart meters.

This development is at variance with earlier assurances by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) that the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) would deploy 1.2 million smart meters by December 2024 and another 1.3 million by the second quarter of 2025 as part of efforts to eliminate estimated billing and improve electricity distribution across the country.

The BPE had described DISREP as a strategic Federal Government initiative, supported by the World Bank, to improve the financial and technical performance of electricity distribution companies.

The government urged consumers to be wary of either paying for their meter or installations, stating that both were fully funded under the DISREP initiative implemented by the Bureau of Public Enterprises in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power and the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

However, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s first-quarter 2026 report revealed that cumulative installations under the programme stood at only 217,784 meters as of March 31, 2026, which is a 6.8 per cent completion rate so far.

According to the commission, deployment commenced in May 2025, with 129,224 meters installed during the first quarter of 2026, up from 99,545 installed in the preceding quarter.

The report stated, “A total of 129,224 meters were installed under the DISREP framework in 2026/Q1 compared to the 99,545 meters installed in 2025/Q4, representing an increase of 29.81 per cent. This brings the cumulative installations under the framework to 217,784.”

The 129,224 meters deployed under DISREP accounted for 36.14 per cent of the 357,495 meters installed nationwide during the quarter, making it the largest single metering framework during the period.

The report further showed that Benin Electricity Distribution Company recorded the highest number of DISREP installations with 26,083 meters, followed by Abuja DisCo with 24,072 and Port Harcourt DisCo with 22,145.

In January 2026, the Federal Government announced the deployment of 500,000 free meters under the World Bank-backed programme.

However, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s first-quarter 2026 report showed that cumulative installations under the programme stood at only 217,784 meters as of March 31, 2026.

The cumulative deployment means the Federal Government has achieved only 6.8 per cent of the programme’s 3.2 million smart meter target, leaving about 2.98 million meters yet to be installed under the World Bank-backed initiative.

According to the commission, deployment under the programme commenced in May 2025, with 129,224 meters installed during the first quarter of 2026, up from 99,545 installed in the preceding quarter.

The report stated, “A total of 129,224 meters were installed under the DISREP framework in 2026/Q1 compared to the 99,545 meters installed in 2025/Q4, representing an increase of 29.81 per cent. This brings the cumulative installations under the framework to 217,784.”

Two weeks ago, President Bola Tinubu launched the “Power Force” to train 5,000 youth on smart meter rollout, calling it “a practical intervention designed to close critical skills gaps in meter installation while expanding opportunities for young Nigerians to participate directly in national development.”

According to the government, the programme will commence in Abuja in July 2026, with subsequent rollout across the six geopolitical zones.

Participants will undergo intensive technical training delivered by the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), while certification and compliance standards will be overseen by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA). Successful trainees will be connected to deployment opportunities with distribution companies, meter providers, and other industry partners