Group Seeks Private Sector-Driven Policy To Tackle Metering Gap
A power sector advocacy group, PowerUp Nigeria, has raised strong objections to the Federal Government’s N700bn Presidential Metering Initiative.
It described it as another opaque intervention that lacks policy clarity, implementation framework, and measurable deliverables.
In a statement issued by the Convener of the group, Mr. Adetayo Adegbemle, the organisation cautioned against what it termed “another round of wasteful spending” in the name of solving the country’s metering deficit.
“This current initiative is no different from past government interventions that failed to resolve the metering conundrum. Taking N700bn from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) without any clear implementation document or approved policy should be considered a crime”, he said.
He argued that government-led interventions have repeatedly failed to close Nigeria’s metering gap, and instead recommended a private sector-driven metering policy that allows for a clear path to cost recovery and measurable impact.
PowerUp Nigeria, which has consistently advocated for reforms in the power sector since its inception, previously demanded clarification on the implementation of the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) regulation in January 2020.
The group said it remains committed to pursuing sustainable solutions, not out of personal interest, but in the public’s best interest.
“They will tell you it cannot be done, even without trying. But we have been consistent in offering practical solutions. This is not about politics or personal gain. It’s about getting the sector to work for Nigerians,” Adegbemle said.
He called on the government to halt the current initiative until a transparent, policy-backed framework with defined timelines and accountability mechanisms is in place.
The Presidential Metering Initiative was recently announced as a key component of the administration’s efforts to address electricity billing inefficiencies by bridging the nationwide metering gap.
However, concerns are growing about the viability and transparency of the massive fund allocation.
THE WHISTLER had previously reported that foreign companies are to benefit a significant share of the Federal Government’s N700bn Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), with N490bn earmarked for their participation.
The remaining N210bn of the project fund has been allocated to Nigerian meter manufacturers, despite calls for greater support for local content.
The Federal Ministry of Power recently launched the PMI to deploy two million electricity meters annually over five years.
The initiative is funded through a ₦700bn allocation secured from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
Speaking at the sixth edition of the 2025 ministerial briefing in Abuja recently, the Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu, confirmed that local manufacturers would be allocated 30 per cent of the total project value.
Adelabu acknowledged the concerns surrounding the marginalisation of local meter producers but explained that capacity constraints necessitated the involvement of foreign suppliers.
Group Seeks Private Sector-Driven Policy To Tackle Metering Gap is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
