- FG has launched the first phase of the Power Force programme to train 5,000 certified smart meter installers across Nigeria.
- The Presidential Metering Initiative received nearly 220,000 applications for the programme, highlighting strong youth interest in the electricity sector.
The Federal Government has launched the first phase of the Power Force programme, marking the commencement of training for 5,000 smart electricity meter installers who will support the nationwide rollout of smart meters under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI).
The government unveiled the first cohort of successful applicants during a flag-off ceremony at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) headquarters in Abuja. The trainees will undergo three weeks of intensive classroom and practical instruction before deploying across the country as certified meter installers.
The Presidential Metering Initiative received nearly 220,000 applications for the 5,000 available training positions, reflecting strong interest among young Nigerians in the programme.
In a statement, the Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative and Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, described the initiative as a key step towards accelerating smart meter deployment and addressing one of the electricity sector’s longstanding challenges.
Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the 5,000 trainees would form the backbone of Nigeria’s smart metering workforce and play a critical role in expanding electricity metering nationwide.
He said the initiative demonstrates that electricity sector reforms require investment in people as well as technology, adding that the programme will create jobs, build technical skills and improve livelihoods.
Tegbe also commended the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria for withdrawing its legal challenge against the metering programme, noting that the decision removed a major obstacle to the accelerated deployment of electricity meters across the country.
Verheijen described the Presidential Metering Initiative as the largest metering programme in Nigeria’s history. She said President Bola Tinubu established the initiative in 2023 to eliminate the country’s metering gap and ensure consumers pay only for the electricity they consume.
She added that the programme aims to build a skilled workforce capable of supporting the country’s expanding electricity infrastructure while creating employment opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians.
Representing the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Executive Director of Finance and Administration of the NGF Secretariat, Edmund Nnaji, urged state governments to support the initiative and expand the number of beneficiaries beyond the initial 5,000 trainees.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayo Olawande, said the programme aligns with the Ministry’s One Youth, Two Skills initiative and will create employment opportunities while strengthening collaboration across government institutions.
Following the Abuja launch, NAPTIN will extend the training programme to centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Upon completing the programme, participants will receive certification from the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), confirming that they meet national and international standards for competence and safety as smart meter installers.
Senior government officials who attended the launch included Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Ayo Gbeleyi, Managing Director of NAPTIN, Ahmed Bolaji Nagode, and Managing Director of NEMSA, Adesayo Michael.