World Bank warns Nigeria's $500m meter plan may be halted by AMMON injunction
The World Bank’s Implementation Status and Results Report for Nigeria’s Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) reveals that a court injunction secured by the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria (AMMON) on April 30, 2026 has halted the opening of bids for the International Competitive Bidding (ICB2) procurement of 1.55 million smart meters. The Transmission Company of Nigeria Project Management Unit has extended the bid submission deadline three times, with the latest deadline set for June 25, 2026, while talks continue with government agencies to resolve the dispute. The World Bank warned that if the matter is not resolved soon, the ICB2 procurement may be cancelled to avoid market uncertainty, cost escalation and further programme delays.
Despite the legal battle, the first phase of the programme continues: as of June 15, 2026, about 1.23 million smart meters had been manufactured, 1.03 million shipped to Nigeria and 482,000 installed, up from 365,000 in April. The programme has already provided direct electricity access to about 530,000 people under Mission 300 and improved the metering gap to 57.27% and billing efficiency to 82.02%. Only $87.34 million of the $500 million World Bank facility has been disbursed (17.5%), and preparations for an additional $308 million financing package are underway.
If the injunction stands and the procurement is cancelled, Nigeria could lose a major avenue to close its metering gap, delay revenue recovery for distribution companies and delay the broader power sector recovery. Stakeholders should monitor negotiations between AMMON, the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the World Bank, and consider how delays might affect metering timelines for their areas or businesses.