The Federal Government has unveiled plans to deploy seven million smart meters across the country as part of its Presidential Metering Initiative.
The move is aimed at eliminating estimated billing, improving revenue collection, and reducing losses within the electricity sector.
Mrs. Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Energy, made this known during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, marking the second anniversary of the Tinubu administration.
Verheijen explained that the initiative would help address collection inefficiencies, particularly for on-grid customers who are currently unmetered. She emphasized that the smart meter rollout is part of broader efforts to strengthen the gas-to-power value chain and improve the commercial viability of the power sector.
“There are multiple interventions underway to make the gas-to-power chain more commercially sustainable,” she said. “We are designing policies and frameworks to support cost-reflective electricity pricing and ensure better efficiency in cost determination.”
Verheijen also noted that the government is taking steps to resolve legacy debts in the sector—debts that arose from inadequate funding of electricity subsidies and the underperformance of Distribution Companies (Discos) in revenue collection.
“To settle these legacy debts, we will use a mix of cash and promissory notes, ensuring that generation companies and gas suppliers are paid,” she stated. “Simultaneously, we are improving revenue assurance by metering most grid-connected customers, thereby eliminating estimated billing and reducing collection losses.”
She added that in return for resolving outstanding debts, the government expects improved performance and increased capital investment from all stakeholders across the power value chain.
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Verheijen also highlighted the administration’s commitment to strengthening governance within the Discos, describing them as the financial backbone of the electricity supply system.
“Through existing regulatory tools, we will ensure Discos have the financial and technical capacity to deliver more reliable power to homes and businesses across Nigeria,” she concluded.
