Aba Power, Nigeria’s newest electricity distribution company, is leading a groundbreaking initiative to assemble smart meters in Aba, Abia State—partnering with four local and international firms to boost power efficiency and create thousands of jobs.
Agatha Nnaji, Group Managing Director of Geometric Power (Aba Power’s parent company), revealed the plan during a visit from the Abia State House of Assembly Committee on Power and Public Utilities.
“The four companies will produce the meters in our premises here,” said Mrs. Nnaji, noting that the project could generate up to 35,000 jobs.
The firms include Nigeria’s Kayz Consortium, Eve Metering Company (led by China-based entrepreneur Soji Olagunji), and two Chinese manufacturers—Chint Metering and DCESN Metering.
Kayz is set to begin assembly this month, with Eve following shortly after. While Kayz, Chint, and DCESN will each deliver 20,000 meters, Eve is expected to produce 100,000.
“Our goal,” explained Engineer Alfred Atenega, Aba Power’s metering team lead, “is to deliver 20,000 prepaid meters every month so that every customer will have a smart meter within 12 months.”
Though it’s unclear if these meters will serve only Aba Power or other DisCos nationwide, an insider suggested expansion is likely.
“We are likely to start providing only for Aba Power for now and later produce for the other electricity companies,” the source said.
During the visit, lawmakers praised the initiative. Committee chair Hon. Aaron Uzodike urged Aba Power to extend electricity to underserved areas, to which Aba Power MD Ugo Opiegbe responded that communities long neglected are already being reconnected through ongoing infrastructure repairs.
“The neglected and underserved communities that were forgotten for several decades… will have a new lease of life,” Opiegbe said.
In response to concerns about customers with unpaid bills, Aba Power COO Engr. Blessing Ogbe confirmed that instalment-based repayment plans are available.
“Customers who had earlier buried their meters due to billing concerns are now returning… because the meters have brought transparency,” he said.
Residents’ feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Hon. Stephen Ucheonye Akachukwu.
“The people are excited over the transparency the smart meters bring,” he said.
With its smart meter push, Aba Power is not just tackling Nigeria’s metering gap—it’s also powering up local employment, technology transfer, and trust in the electricity sector.
