The Federal Government has installed 668,000 electricity meters at customers’ premises under the first phase of the $500 million World Bank-backed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP).

The figure represents about 65 per cent of the 1.033 million meters delivered so far under the programme, with another 365,000 meters awaiting deployment.

Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayodeji Gbeleyi, disclosed the figures on Wednesday while briefing the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) during its second meeting for 2026 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting was chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Gbeleyi said the metering exercise was ongoing, with efforts continuing to install the remaining meters on customers’ premises.

“We have implemented 60 per cent of the meters that have been delivered in the country out of 1,033,000. So far we have deployed and installed 668,000 meters on customers’ premises,” he said.

He also disclosed that 17 states had established State Electricity Regulatory Commissions since the Electricity Act 2023 took effect in April 2024.

According to him, the development represents progress in transferring aspects of electricity regulation to the states, although further adjustments are needed to ensure smooth implementation of the law.

Gbeleyi identified Akwa Ibom as the latest state to establish its electricity regulatory commission, which it did in July.

He added that the Council had directed relevant stakeholders, led by the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Minister of Power and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to harmonise the Federal Government’s position on proposed amendments to the Electricity Act.

The directive is intended to resolve areas requiring clarification and ensure consistency in the implementation of the law across the country.

Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the government was adopting a coordinated approach to its ongoing reforms in the electricity and telecommunications sectors, with the aim of delivering measurable benefits to Nigerians.

The latest metering figures come amid renewed efforts by the Federal Government to accelerate implementation of DISREP, which has encountered procurement-related setbacks.

The procurement of about 1.55 million smart meters under the World Bank-funded programme was temporarily affected by a legal dispute involving the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria. The dispute was subsequently resolved, allowing the government to proceed with its plans to deploy about 1.56 million additional meters before the end of 2026.

Electricity Distribution Companies have also increased their metering activities. Data reported earlier in 2026 showed that 357,495 meters were installed during the first quarter, representing the highest quarterly deployment in five quarters, with DISREP contributing more than one-third of the installations.

The metering drive forms part of wider efforts to address longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s electricity market, including estimated billing, revenue shortfalls and the financial instability of distribution companies.

The regulatory reforms have also seen NERC take direct action against struggling electricity distributors. Earlier in August, the commission intervened in Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company and dissolved its board following the company’s accumulation of about N456.5 billion in market-related obligations.

NERC said the intervention was necessary to safeguard the company’s operations and maintain electricity distribution services across its franchise area.