Local Manufacturers Halt Procurement of Smart Meters

Local manufacturers, represented by the Association of Meter Manufacturers Nigeria, obtained a court injunction on April 30, 2026, to stop the procurement of 1.55 million smart meters, which is part of the World Bank's $500 million Nigeria Distribution Sector Recovery Program. This legal action has been identified as a major risk to the program's implementation, potentially forcing the cancellation of the procurement if the dispute is not resolved promptly.

The World Bank noted that the injunction has stalled the open bidding process for the second phase of the procurement. The deadline for bid submissions has been extended three times, with the latest deadline set for June 25, 2026.

The program, approved in February 2021, aims to improve financial and technical performance in the electricity distribution sector. Despite the legal challenges, the World Bank continues to implement the program, which has already provided direct electricity access to 530,000 people.