The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has disclosed that between 600,000 and 700,000 electricity meters are currently available for deployment across the country, urging distribution companies to intensify their rollout efforts.
NERC Vice Chairman, Dr. Musiliu Oseni, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja while delivering his opening remarks at the 4th NESI Stakeholders Meeting. The Commission shared highlights of his address in a statement posted on its official X handle.
The meeting, which marks Oseni’s final NESI stakeholders’ session as Vice Chairman, focused on the sector’s operational challenges and the regulatory direction for the months ahead.
He stressed that the federal government had already invested substantially in meter procurement and that there was no justification for slow distribution. He charged the utilities to step up their public engagement and accelerate deployment.
“There are currently 600,000 to 700,000 meters available in the country. Utilities must improve publicity. The government has made the investment, so the DisCos need to step up,” he said.
Addressing regulators, operators, and other industry players, the Vice Chairman noted that the Nigerian power sector was at several “crossroads,” particularly with the ongoing transition to State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs). He cautioned distribution companies against resisting oversight from the emerging state-level regulators.
“No licensee is bigger than their regulator,” he warned, underscoring the need for full cooperation as states assume greater regulatory authority.
Oseni also used the platform to correct recent misinformation circulating in the media regarding the tenure of NERC Commissioners. He explained that the “staggering principle” referenced in some reports was embedded in Section 36 of the Electricity Act and originally applied only to the pioneer Commission under the former Electricity Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA).
According to him, the law clearly provides a five-year tenure for subsequent Chairmen and Commissioners, as stipulated in Section 36(1) of the Electricity Act.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), with discussions centred on regulatory alignment, market stability, and reinforcing consumer confidence as the sector undergoes structural changes.
