In August, Nigeria’s total number of metered electricity customers climbed to 6,579,818, raising the national metering rate to 55.01%, as reported by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). While this marks an improvement, a significant portion of consumers—approximately 45%—remains unmetered, continuing to rely on estimated billing, which has led to widespread dissatisfaction and disputes. The total active customer base in the power sector grew from nearly 11.9 million in July to about 12 million in August, with the number of newly metered customers increasing by 70,888 over the same period.
The distribution of metering performance among the 12 electricity distribution companies varies widely; for instance, Ikeja Electric achieved a high metering rate of 84.83% by August, while Yola Disco reported just 28.65%. Abuja Disco also showed strong results, reaching a metering rate of 73.92%. In contrast, several Discos in northern Nigeria faced challenges, with Kaduna and Kano recording only low rates of about 33.60% and 34.43%, respectively.
Although Ibadan Disco deployed the highest number of new meters, its overall metering rate remained below 51%. The data reveal a persistent structural issue, as the gap between metered and unmetered customers remains significant, positioning the country in a protracted state of inadequate billing accuracy. The slow pace of meter installations—around 70,000 per month—indicates it could take years to address the issue fully.
For consumers, the lack of metering results in arbitrary billing, while for distribution companies, it impacts revenue collection and overall market stability. NERC continues to emphasize the critical role of metering in protecting consumer rights and ensuring cash flow in the electricity sector, yet financial constraints and procurement delays hinder progress.