Abuja: The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi, announced the bureau’s collaboration with key stakeholders in the power sector to address the metering gap, estimated at 5.66 million meters, across Nigeria. Gbeleyi made this statement during a strategic meeting in Abuja with Nigeria’s Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) on the implementation of free meter distribution and installation for electricity consumers.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the agency is working in synergy with the 11 DISCOs to intensify efforts in distributing and installing meters at no cost to the consumers. Gbeleyi emphasized that the collaborative meeting was aimed at appraising the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), which focuses on reducing the metering deficit of 5.66 million.
The first phase of the programme, supported by a $500 million financial facility from the World Bank, has already seen the supply of 700,000 meters, with 200,000 installed so far. Gbeleyi
urged the DISCOs to ensure the strict implementation of the programme by metering all customers in line with the federal government’s policy direction and vision.
DISREP is a World Bank-supported initiative designed to enhance the performance and financial sustainability of Nigeria’s Electricity Distribution Companies. It specifically targets the metering gap, which the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) estimates to be over 5.6 million. The programme aims to achieve the federal government’s power sector reform objectives for improved operational efficiency and financial viability by year-end.
Representatives from various DISCOs expressed their support for the intervention programme, assuring Nigerians of their commitment to its success. However, they raised concerns about meter installers allegedly extorting customers, pledging to hold accountable anyone found engaging in such activities.