Nigeria electricity metering reaches 63% amid World Bank program delays

Nigeria’s electricity metering efforts show mixed progress according to recent reports from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the World Bank. In August, Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) installed 141,746 new meters, bringing the overall metering rate to 63.10 per cent. Eko, Ikeja, and Abuja DisCos recorded the highest individual metering rates, with Eko leading at 89.64 per cent.

However, the World Bank-backed $500 million Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) faces significant challenges in meeting its targets. As of September, only 731,034 meters have been installed under the initiative, representing just 22.8 per cent of its 3.2 million-meter goal. To reach the December 2027 performance target, approximately 2.47 million devices must be installed within the next 15 months.

The DISREP initiative aims to stabilize Nigeria’s power sector by reducing technical and commercial losses and upgrading grid infrastructure. While meter installations increased from March 2026 levels, the program has also seen shortfalls in network rehabilitation, customer mapping, and new electricity connections. Currently, only $94.44 million of the total financing has been disbursed.