This was made known at the Enugu State Investor Forum themed “Driving Revenue Assurance and Private Investment through Data-Driven Metering,” which took place at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, on Tuesday.

The event funded by the UK International Development and implemented by Tetra Tech brought together key sector stakeholders, including electricity distribution companies, investors, and policymakers, to explore opportunities for expanding smart metering and improving electricity access in Enugu State.

It also focused on strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to deliver sustainable and climate-smart infrastructure, with Enugu State as a key beneficiary.

Speaking at the event, Mr Chijioke Okonkwo, chairman and chief executive officer of the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission, said the project was designed to address persistent challenges of revenue leakages, energy theft, and poor billing efficiency in the power sector.

He disclosed that a pilot scheme involving the deployment of 846 smart meters had already been carried out in the Ugwuaji axis of the state capital, covering surrounding semi-urban communities.

According to Okonkwo, the pilot enabled full tracking of electricity consumption from transformers to individual households.

“This system allows us to drastically reduce, if not eliminate, commercial and collection losses, which have long hindered the growth of the power sector,” he said.

He explained that the AI-enabled meters provide real-time data on energy usage, empower consumers to monitor their consumption, and help operators quickly detect faults or irregularities, including theft and equipment vandalism.

The regulator noted that the initiative also opens opportunities for private investors and energy retail companies to participate in Enugu’s electricity market, particularly in underserved areas.

“We are inviting investors to take advantage of this opportunity by deploying smart meters, expanding distribution networks, and even establishing embedded power generation within the state,” he added.

He said current market prices for meters stand at approximately N130,000 for single-phase units and about N230,000 for three-phase units, adding that flexible payment structures could be arranged to ease adoption.

Also speaking, Mr Frank Edozie, team leader of UKNiAF, described the project as a “demonstrator” of how artificial intelligence could enhance transparency and accountability in electricity revenue collection.

“The system ensures that all revenues due to the sector are properly collected and accounted for. It also detects any breach in energy or financial flows, making it a strong revenue assurance mechanism,” Edozie said.

He observed that Enugu was selected for the pilot due to its leading role in implementing reforms under Nigeria’s Electricity Act 2023, which empowers states to develop independent electricity markets.

According to him, the pilot project, which commenced in November 2025, had already shown encouraging results, including significant improvements in revenue recovery and reduction in losses.

In his remarks, Dr Ernest Mupwaya, managing director of MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited, said the initiative addresses two critical issues in the power sector, metering gaps and revenue protection.

He emphasised that without efficient metering and strong revenue assurance systems, investments in the power sector would remain unattractive and unsustainable.

“Smart metering, combined with advanced monitoring systems gives utilities visibility across their networks, making it easier to detect losses and improve operational efficiency,” he said.

Mupwaya added that the project has demonstrated the viability of attracting private financing into metering infrastructure, noting that improved revenue collection would enable operators to repay investments over time.

Earlier, Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, Enugu State commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry, said the state was selected for the initiative due to ongoing reforms and progress in its electricity market.

He explained that the successful pilot had shown that smart metering could guarantee revenue assurance across the electricity value chain, from generation to distribution, thereby boosting investor confidence.

“The system assures investors that they will recover their investments, which is critical for attracting funding into power generation, transmission, and distribution,” he said.

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On Tuesday the 2nd of December, the programme brought together over 100 senior stakeholders from government, development partners, development finance institutions and the private sector, to reflect on the last six successful years of UKNIAF work and celebrate the close-out for this phase of UK government support.

Since its inception, UKNIAF has provided targeted technical assistance and advisory support to Federal and State institutions across the Power, Infrastructure Finance and Roads sectors, helping to embed evidence-based reforms and data-driven decision-making.

Through its work, the programme enabled significant finance to be mobilised and supported sector transformation in sub-national markets. It strengthened key institutions, creating a more investor-ready environment for infrastructure.

Plenary and panel sessions during the event featured senior representatives of participating ministries, departments and agencies, development partners and private actors.

These discussions highlighted how institutional capacity had evolved, where reforms had taken root, and what was required to sustain momentum.

Participants emphasised the significant contributions of the programme towards supporting economic growth and improving livelihoods. In the Power sector, UKNIAF’s success was underscored in the adoption of landmark policies, enhancing regulatory capabilities and creating new markets.

Examples included the development of the country’s first Integrated Resource Plan which charts a least cost, low carbon pathway for power sector expansion; designing advanced data capabilities at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to monitor and manage tariffs, grid flows and outages in real time.

And, enabling states to create their own electricity markets to meet their own needs and capitalise on their resources.

In the Infrastructure sector, participants welcomed UKNIAFs efforts to improve the planning, financing and delivery of bankable projects. Key examples included the mobilisation of $75m of financing from the African Development Bank to the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme, through the provision of project preparation services to two states; accelerating sustainable mini-grids and solar plants by supporting the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) adopt new project models and technical standards. And, helping to build Nigeria’s bankable project pipeline through the design of a new project preparation facility, with ₦21billion allocated in both of the 2024 and 2025 budgets respectively for its operationalisation.

Frank Edozie, UKNIAF team lead, said:

“UKNIAF’s close-out was not an end point, but a handover for sustained delivery. For over six years, we helped strengthen institutions with tools that make Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape more transparent, climate-smart and attractive to investors, and this legacy now sits with our partners to sustain and grow.”

According to Adebayo Adelabu, the minister of Power,

“The technical assistance, capacity development, and advisory services provided under UKNIAF have laid a firmer foundation for the sustainable and inclusive electricity supply industry we are building in our nation today.”

Cynthia Rowe, head of Development Corporation for UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in Nigeria, added:

‘’I take great pride in the achievements of the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF) and the strong partnership between the UK and Nigeria. Together, we have achieved milestones that once seemed far out of reach. From supporting pioneering states to take control of their electricity markets, to unlocking $75m in financing with project preparation assistance and designing Nigeria’s Climate Change Fund to attract global climate investment. Our shared success has shown what is possible’’.

Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, secretary to the State Government, Enugu State, said:

“The impact of UKNIAF is also reflected in the quality of ambassadors that have transferred the knowledge and experience from the programme into the subnational and national infrastructure delivery process leading to impact and irreversibility. UKNIAF is maybe ending as a programme, but UKNIAF’s legacy in supporting senior decision makers lives on.”

The event delivered renewed commitments from partners to sustain tools and reforms, and the dissemination and handover of knowledge products and programme outputs.

It also reinforced relationships among public, private, and development actors and deepened understanding of the roles that public and private sector players can continue to play in Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape.

Participants included beneficiary clients and donor partners such as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Federal Ministry of Power, the Ministry of Finance, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Rural Electrification Agency, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, key state governments and other agencies.

They were joined by donor partners and Development Finance Institutions (DFI), including the African Development Bank, World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and others, alongside private sector and civil society organisations active in Nigeria’s infrastructure and energy ecosystems.

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The United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), in collaboration with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), has concluded a nationwide workshop series designed to accelerate State-led electricity market reforms across Nigeria.

The State Learning Workshop Series, held in Lagos, Calabar, Kano and Jos, brought together policymakers, regulators, and energy stakeholders from all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory.

The sessions focused on Electricity Market Development, Integrated Resource Planning (IRP), and hands-on training with energy modelling software, equipping States with the capacity to design sustainable and investor-ready electricity markets in line with the Electricity Act 2023.

Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Mr. Chijioke Chuku, director-Legal/Head Power Desk at the NGF, said:

“Nigeria’s electricity future depends on the capacity of our States to lead with vision, clarity, and technical precision. Through the workshop series, we are equipping States not just with knowledge, but with the confidence to take charge of their electricity markets. The NGF is proud to partner with UKNIAF in ensuring that the promise of the Electricity Act 2023 becomes a lived reality across the country.”

The workshops covered:

• Legal and regulatory pathways for establishing State Electricity Markets;
• Commercial models to attract private sector investment;
• Integration of State electricity plans into the National IRP;
• Practical training on advanced software platforms for energy modelling.

The initiative builds on UKNIAF’s technical support to pioneering States such as Akwa Ibom, Enugu, and Oyo, which have taken early steps in setting up their own electricity markets.

It also draws from UKNIAF’s contribution to national reforms, including support to the Federal Ministry of Power in drafting Nigeria’s first National Integrated Electricity Policy and National Integrated Resource Plan, both recently approved.

With States now empowered by the Electricity Act 2023 to shape their own electricity markets, the workshop series represents a timely intervention to strengthen technical capacity, improve coordination, and ensure sustainability in Nigeria’s evolving decentralized energy landscape.

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