The Federal Government has banned electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and meter installers from collecting any form of payment from consumers for meter installation nationwide.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during an inspection of newly imported smart meters at APM Terminals, Apapa, Lagos.
According to the minister, all meters supplied under the World Bank–funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) must be installed completely free of charge, regardless of customer category.
He warned that any DisCo official or installer who demands money from consumers will be prosecuted.
Adelabu disclosed that about 500,000 smart meters have recently arrived in the country, adding to previous deliveries.
The programme targets the deployment of 3.4 million meters in two phases. So far, nearly one million meters have been delivered, with about 150,000 already installed.
While expressing concern over delays in installation, the minister said the initiative remains the largest metering project in Nigeria’s history and is expected to significantly reduce estimated billing.
To curb extortion, the government has introduced monitoring systems and a customer complaint desk, enabling consumers to report illegal charges.
Confirmed offenders will face prosecution in collaboration with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and state regulators.
Officials also announced new digital tracking systems, mobile registration platforms, and improved data on unmetered customers to speed up installations.
With over five million Nigerians still on estimated billing, the government says the free-meter policy marks a major step toward transparency, consumer trust, and improved efficiency in the power sector.
