Nigeria's $500m World Bank Metering Scheme Hindered by Poor Data and Low Pay

The $500 million World Bank-funded metering scheme in Nigeria is encountering obstacles such as inadequate data and insufficient remuneration for installations, leading to a sluggish deployment of smart electricity meters. Out of the initial 1 million meters earmarked for deployment, only 150,000 have been installed by distribution companies, leaving 850,000 meters unused.

The Nigerian government recently received a batch of 500,000 meters from Sanxing China, bringing the total available for deployment to 1.5 million. The program, part of efforts to bridge the country's 7 million meter deficit, aims to enhance the financial and technical performance of the electricity sector.

However, challenges such as poor pay for installations and lack of accurate customer data are impeding progress. Stakeholders emphasize the need for improved remuneration to incentivize meter installations and ensure the success of the program.