Nigeria’s drive to bridge its electricity metering gap has received a major boost as the Federal Government launched Power Force, a nationwide training programme aimed at producing 5,000 certified meter installers to accelerate the deployment of seven million smart electricity meters.
The programme, flagged off on Thursday at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) headquarters in Abuja, is being implemented under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023.
The ceremony also marked the unveiling of the first batch of successful applicants, who will undergo a three-week intensive practical and classroom training in Abuja. Officials disclosed that nearly 220,000 young Nigerians applied for the programme.
The event was attended by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe; the Minister of Youth Development, Ayo Olawande; the Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative and Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen; and the Project Director of the PMI, Obafemi Solebo.
Also present was Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by Edmund Obiora Nnaji, Executive Director of Finance and Administration at the NGF, alongside other key stakeholders in the power sector.
In his remarks, Governor AbdulRazaq described the initiative as more than a metering programme, saying it would also equip young Nigerians with valuable technical skills and create employment opportunities.
He urged state governors to support the initiative and help expand the programme beyond the initial target of 5,000 trainees.
Power Minister Joseph Tegbe said the success of Nigeria’s metering programme depends on the availability of competent and certified technicians.
He noted that the trainees would become the backbone of the country’s smart metering workforce, adding that the initiative is not only about deploying technology but also about creating jobs, developing human capital and improving livelihoods.
The minister also commended the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria (AMMON) for withdrawing its court case against the meter deployment programme, describing the decision as a major step toward accelerating nationwide meter installation.
Minister of Youth Development Ayo Olawande said the initiative aligns with his ministry’s “One Youth, Two Skills” programme, noting that it would create meaningful employment opportunities while empowering young Nigerians to contribute to national development.
Speaking at the event, Olu Verheijen described the Presidential Metering Initiative as the largest metering programme in Nigeria’s history, established to ensure consumers pay only for the electricity they use while improving the reliability of the country’s power sector.
She encouraged the trainees to seize the opportunity, saying thousands of skilled installers could inspire many more young Nigerians to build careers in the electricity sector.
Following the Abuja launch, the Power Force training programme will be extended to centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Upon completion, participants will receive Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) certification, qualifying them as professional meter installers under national and international standards.
