The Federal Government has announced that it will receive the first batch of 3.205 million electricity meters in April 2025.

This initiative is aimed at addressing the metering gap across the country.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made the disclosure in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, in Abuja on Sunday.

Adelabu explained that the meters are being procured under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme, which targets the delivery of 3.2 million meters by 2026 through different procurement models.

The minister disclosed that the first batch of 75,000 meters under the International Competitive Bid 1 is expected by the end of April, with an additional 200,000 meters to follow in May.

In addition to DISREP, Adelabu highlighted the N700 billion Presidential Metering Initiative, which has secured funding from the Federation Account Allocation Committee.

The minister explained that the PMI is structured to facilitate large-scale meter procurement and deployment.

He said that a Special Purpose Vehicle had been established to oversee the implementation of the initiative.

“While challenges persist, the facts tell a more balanced story; one of sustained effort, financial commitment, and structured implementation plans by the Federal Government to close the metering gap.

”Despite claims of stagnation, metering installations have been progressing steadily.

”As of Dec.2024, a total of 5.502 million customers had been metered, representing about 55 percent of the 10.114 million active electricity customers in the country,” he said.

The minister noted that in 2024, a total of 572,050 meters were installed, maintaining an average yearly deployment of 668,000 meters.

He added that the government has set a target to deploy 2 million meters annually over the next five years, with the first batch expected by Q3 2024.