Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) says it has installed more than 3,000 free prepaid meters in the Gbaji and Apa communities of Badagry in the past six months to improve electricity service delivery.
The Head of Distribution Operations, EKEDC, Mr Henry Ukoh, disclosed this on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting with electricity consumers at the Badagry Local Government Secretariat, Ajara.
Truthng reports that the meeting was convened to address residents’ concerns over erratic power supply, estimated billing and the shortage of prepaid meters in the area.
Ukoh said about 2,600 prepaid meters were installed earlier in 2026, while an additional 400 meters were recently deployed to the two communities.
He assured consumers that all customers would eventually be metered and urged them to remain patient.
Ukoh explained that prepaid meters were deployed under different schemes, including the Federal Government’s free metering programme and the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) initiative, under which customers pay for meters and recover the cost through energy credits over time.
He said the free meters were supplied in batches by the Federal Government, adding that EKEDC allocated available meters based on the quantities received.
According to him, it is not in the company’s interest to withhold meters because widespread metering enhances energy accounting, reduces losses and improves operational efficiency.
“We are not keeping meters because we do not want to give customers meters. We also want every customer metered because it helps us monitor energy distribution and reduce losses,” he said.
On electricity supply, Ukoh attributed the persistent outages in Badagry to inadequate power allocation from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
He said the three feeders serving Badagry had a combined capacity of about 20 megawatts (MW), but the command currently received only 15 to 17MW, limiting supply to consumers.
“We are even requesting an additional 2MW to improve supply to the area,” he said.
Ukoh expressed optimism that electricity supply would improve upon the completion of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) in Oloko, Badagry.
Also speaking, the General Manager, Commercial, EKEDC, Mr Dave Adeniji, said estimated billing was regulated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), noting that electricity distribution companies could not exceed approved billing caps for unmetered customers.
He warned that violations attracted severe regulatory sanctions, including heavy financial penalties.
The Head of Customer Experience, EKEDC, Hajia Haleemah Yinusa, urged residents to channel complaints through the company’s Customer Complaint Units for prompt resolution.
Earlier, residents decried prolonged power outages, estimated billing and the slow pace of prepaid meter deployment.
The Depegan of Badagry, Chief Tunde Giro, alleged that the community had been neglected despite its strategic importance, saying residents continued to receive estimated bills despite poor electricity supply.
He contrasted the situation with neighbouring Agbara, where electricity supply was more stable.
Also, an engineer and resident of Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr Jacob Setonji, urged EKEDC to improve electricity supply, describing the current billing regime as unfair.
He said residents were being billed between N25,000 and N35,000 monthly in spite of receiving only a few hours of electricity daily.
Similarly, a resident of Olorunda LCDA, Mr Segun Hundeyin, appealed to the company to replace two faulty prepaid meters installed in his premises, saying repeated complaints since 2024 had yet to receive attention.
