Nigeria has stepped up efforts to bridge its electricity metering gap with the launch of Power Force, a national training programme aimed at producing 5,000 certified smart meter installers under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI).
The programme was officially flagged off on Thursday at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) headquarters in Abuja, where the first batch of trainees began a three-week practical and classroom training.
The initiative forms part of the Presidential Metering Initiative launched by President Bola Tinubu in 2023 to accelerate the deployment of seven million smart electricity meters across the country.
According to the organisers, nearly 220,000 young Nigerians applied for the programme, with the first batch of successful applicants unveiled during the launch ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the success of Nigeria’s metering programme depends on a skilled workforce capable of supporting nationwide installation.
He described the 5,000 trainees as the backbone of Nigeria’s smart metering drive, adding that the initiative is not only about improving electricity supply but also creating jobs, building technical capacity and securing livelihoods for young Nigerians.
The Minister of Power also commended the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria (AMMON) for withdrawing its court case challenging the meter deployment programme, noting that the move had removed a major obstacle to the accelerated rollout of smart meters nationwide.
The Chairman of the Presidential Metering Initiative Board and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, represented by the Executive Director of Finance and Administration at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Edmund Nnaji, said the initiative goes beyond addressing challenges in the power sector.
According to him, the programme is also designed to equip young Nigerians with practical skills and create employment opportunities, while urging state governments to support efforts to expand the number of trainees beyond the initial 5,000.
On his part , the Minister of Youth Development, Ayo Olawande, said the initiative aligns with the ministry’s “One Youth, Two Skills” programme, describing it as a platform for job creation and youth empowerment through collaboration among government agencies.
Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative, Olu Arowolo Verheijen, described the PMI as Nigeria’s largest metering programme, established to ensure consumers pay only for the electricity they use through widespread deployment of smart meters.
She expressed confidence that the programme would create a new generation of skilled technicians capable of driving reforms in the electricity sector.
Following the Abuja launch, the Power Force training programme will be extended to centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Participants who complete the training will receive certification from the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), qualifying them as professional meter installers in line with national and international safety and competency standards.