Nigeria’s Power Reform Explained: Why the ₦700bn Meter Rollout Is Now Set for 2027

Nigeria’s electricity sector is being reshaped by the Electricity Act 2023, which allows states to build and regulate their own power markets. The national grid structure of GenCos, TCN and DisCos remains, but states can now license local generation, distribution, mini-grids and embedded power projects. The Presidential Metering Initiative received ₦700bn in 2024, but the first rollout has shifted to 2027. A recent NERC factsheet says 750,000 meters are expected in the first phase. The delay has been linked to the creation of the project company, installer training, local-manufacturing plans and a procurement dispute involving meter manufacturers. Nigeria had about 12.75 million active electricity customers as of August 2026, with roughly 4.7 million still unmetered. Other schemes, including MAP, MAF and the World Bank-backed DISREP programme, have continued to supply meters. MAP customers may pay upfront and receive energy-token credits as refunds, while other schemes are intended to provide meters at no direct cost to customers. The Federal Government has also begun settling legacy debts owed to generation companies, reporting about ₦1.23 trillion paid out of an estimated ₦4 trillion. This could help power plants pay for gas, maintenance and lenders. However, transmission constraints, gas shortages, vandalism and DisCo performance remain major obstacles to more reliable electricity.

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.