FG To Distribute First Batch Of 3.2m Meters In April

The Federal Government is set to receive the first batch of 3,205,101meters procured to bridge the metering gap in the country.

A statement by Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser, Strategic Communications and Media Relations to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu said 75,000 meters under the International Competitive Bid 1 (ICB1) is expected by April 2025, followed by the second batch of 200,000 meters in May 2025.

Reports on metering in the Nigeria Electricity Sector had portrayed an industry in crisis, thus presenting a narrative that overlooks significant progress in bridging the metering gap.

According to the statement, though installation rates have varied over the years, the sector maintains a yearly average of about 668,000 meters installed adding that, structured financing and government-backed initiatives are expected to accelerate deployment beyond the current pace, ensuring that the metering gap is addressed efficiently.

It added that to bridge this gap, the government has put in place key initiatives aimed at significantly improving metering across the country.

The Distribution Sector Recovery Program (DISREP) is set to deliver 3,205,101 meters by 2026 while this will be achieved through different procurement models, including 1,437,501 meters through International Competitive Bid 1 (ICB1), 217,600 meters through National Competitive Bid (NCB), and 1,550,000 meters through International Competitive Bid 2 (ICB2).

As part of this plan, the first batch of 75,000 meters under ICB1 is expected by April 2025, followed by the second batch of 200,000 meters in May 2025.