Kano Court Halts Smart Meter Procurement In AMMON Dispute
A temporary halt has been placed on a major electricity metering procurement process after a Federal High Court in Kano directed all parties to preserve existing conditions pending further hearing.
The order, issued on Wednesday by Justice M. N. Yunusa, followed an ex parte application brought by the Trustee of the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria acting on behalf of its members. A Certified True Copy of the ruling was made available on Thursday.
The suit, marked FHC/KN/CS/214/2026, lists the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Federal Ministry of Power, and the Bureau of Public Enterprises as respondents.
Justice Yunusa directed that “all parties must maintain the status quo” pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice. The court also ordered that all relevant processes be served accordingly and adjourned the matter to May 26, 2026, for a report of compliance.
The plaintiff is challenging an ongoing bid process covering the supply and installation of smart meters to eleven electricity distribution companies nationwide. The procurement, initially advertised in January 2026, was scheduled to close on April 30, 2026.
AMMON, representing local manufacturers including Mojec International Nigeria Limited and others, is seeking an interim injunction to restrain the respondents from taking further steps to conclude the process. The association argues that continuing the exercise could undermine domestic manufacturers and has raised concerns over compliance with due process in the bidding procedure.
The dispute comes against the backdrop of longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s power sector, particularly the metering gap that has contributed to widespread estimated billing for electricity consumers. According to government records, millions of electricity users remain unmetered, despite multiple interventions over the years.
Federal authorities have introduced several initiatives to address the deficit, notably the National Mass Metering Programme, aimed at improving billing transparency and reducing disputes between distribution companies and consumers.
Industry stakeholders have, however, repeatedly called for stronger inclusion of local manufacturers in such programmes, warning that limited participation could weaken domestic production capacity and increase reliance on imports.
The court’s interim order effectively pauses the procurement process, pending a fuller hearing that will determine whether the bidding exercise complied with regulatory and legal standards.