Abuja, 28 October 2026 – Stakeholders in Nigeria’s electricity sector have called for stronger local manufacturing, expanded installer training and data-backed financing to accelerate efforts to close the country’s metering gap.
The call emerged from the 122nd Power Dialogue, themed “Bridging Nigeria’s Metering Gap: Unlocking Finance, Technology and Regulatory Innovation for Electricity Market Transformation.” Hosted by The Electricity Hub (TEH), the dialogue brought together regulators, distribution companies (DisCos), meter manufacturers, vending merchants and other industry stakeholders. The session featured Surhyel Mshelbwala, Principal Manager, Corporate Services at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC); Soji Olatunji, Managing Director of Eve Electric; Canice Emeka, Chief Business Officer at Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC); Awokola Adeolu, Head of Revenue at BuyPower, and was moderated by Titilola Akinsola, Research and Policy Consultant at Nextier.
Supporting local manufacturing and financing
Mshelbwala, Principal Manager, Corporate Services at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), disclosed that the number of registered local meter manufacturers had increased from 10 in 2018 to approximately 500 in 2026. He explained that meters undergo regulatory testing to ensure accuracy and compliance with established standards.
However, Olatunji, Managing Director of Eve Electric, noted that local manufacturers need competitive pricing, quality, and availability to compete with imports. He called for procurement timelines that reflect production cycles, while advocating targeted quotas and tenders for domestic manufacturers.
Emeka, Chief Business Officer at Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), called for accessible, low-interest financing models, highlighting Meter Asset Provider (MAP) schemes. Panellists also identified prepaid payment histories as useful data for assessing customer cash flows and reducing financing risks. They highlighted vendor financing and annual contract price reviews as additional measures to support meter deployment and protect local manufacturers against currency fluctuations.
Improving technology and technical capacity
Stakeholders identified installer training, reliable technology and better data management as essential to successful meter deployment. They noted that some faulty meter complaints result from poor installation by uncertified technicians, calling for continuous training and certification through collaboration among manufacturers, regulators, and DisCos.
The dialogue also explored the potential of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), which can store up to 10 years of data and support better monitoring of electricity consumption and losses. However, hosting and managing this data remains costly. Panellists also highlighted opportunities to use electricity payment histories for credit assessments, subject to Nigeria’s data protection requirements.
Building trust across the electricity market
Adeolu, Head of Revenue at BuyPower, observed that prepaid metering has made consumers more conscious of electricity usage. Emeka, however, highlighted that it also exposes challenges such as illegal connections and multiple customers sharing one supply. He estimated that closing the metering gap could increase collection by up to 56 per cent. He further identified limited trust between utilities and consumers as a driver of costly revenue protection measures, including multiple meter installations and relocations.
Stakeholders called for transparent service delivery, greater consumer awareness, improved trust between utilities and customers, and consistent regulation that balances investor returns with customer protection. The dialogue highlighted four priorities, including:
- Expanding installer training and certification
- Supporting local manufacturing through targeted procurement
- Leveraging metering and payment data for financing, and
- Strengthening trust across the electricity value chain.
About The Electricity Hub
The Electricity Hub (TEH) is a leading energy media and communications platform and the media and communications arm of Nextier, dedicated to advancing conversations, knowledge sharing, and stakeholder engagement across Africa’s electricity and energy sectors.
Since 2016, TEH has provided credible news, industry data, analysis, reports, and insights that inform decision-making, promote policy dialogue, and support the development of Africa’s energy industry. Through its digital platforms, media coverage, and stakeholder engagement initiatives, TEH connects policymakers, regulators, investors, development partners, utilities, private sector players, and energy professionals. Its flagship initiative, Power Dialogue, with over 120 editions, convenes key industry stakeholders to discuss critical energy issues, explore innovative solutions, and build partnerships that drive sector development. Other initiatives include its energy-focused podcasts: Grid Code, WATTS Happening, Green Circle, and The Ladies Podcast, alongside public awareness and educational initiatives (the Sustainable Energy Education Drive).
With a growing pan-African audience and an engaged community of over 50,000, TEH helps partners gain strategic visibility, targeted publicity, editorial coverage, digital amplification, stakeholder engagement, and opportunities to reach influential audiences across the energy value chain.
Through media and technical partnerships, TEH amplifies impactful initiatives, promotes knowledge exchange, strengthens industry visibility, and supports conversations that advance sustainable energy access and development across Africa.