The House of Representatives has launched an investigation into Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies (DisCos) over their failure to replace outdated meters and improve critical infrastructure. The probe aims to address widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians, particularly concerning the reliance on consumer contributions for maintenance and equipment replacement.
In a resolution passed on Wednesday, the House directed its Committee on Power to investigate the operations of DisCos and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Lawmakers emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of NERC’s directive mandating DisCos to replace obsolete meters at no cost to consumers and within a specified timeframe.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance raised by Representative Nnamdi Ezechi, who decried the persistent metering crisis and poor service delivery in the electricity distribution sector. He noted that outdated meters have resulted in the decommissioning of over one million units, leaving consumers to choose between paying exorbitant sums—up to ₦200,000 for new meters—or enduring inflated bills from direct connections.
Many Nigerians who applied for meter upgrades months ago are yet to receive replacements. Consumers are left with no choice but to bear the cost of repairs or replacements of infrastructure like transformers and cables, which should be the responsibility of the electricity companies,” Ezechi stated.
The lawmaker also highlighted the inefficiencies in the privatized electricity sector, criticizing monopolies for failing to deliver affordable and reliable electricity. He lamented that community contributions often fund new transformers and other infrastructure, further questioning the effectiveness of privatization in addressing these challenges.
To enhance service delivery, the House urged Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu to prioritize funding and provide incentives for infrastructure upgrades, particularly transformers, to reduce load-shedding nationwide.
In addition, lawmakers directed DisCos to establish accessible and transparent systems for meter upgrades and replacements, with penalties for non-compliance to protect consumers from exploitation.
This probe seeks to resolve long-standing issues in Nigeria’s power sector, ensuring a fairer and more efficient electricity distribution system for all citizens.