Key points
- The Federal Government will train 5,000 electricity meter installers to support the deployment of seven million smart meters.
- The programme received nearly 220,000 applications from young Nigerians.
- Trainees will receive certification from the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).
- The initiative is expected to boost youth employment and accelerate electricity sector reforms.
Main story
The Federal Government has launched a programme to train 5,000 electricity meter installers nationwide as part of efforts to close Nigeria’s metering gap and accelerate the deployment of seven million smart meters.
The Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) and Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday during the inauguration of the Power Force programme.
Verheijen said the initiative forms part of the Presidential Metering Initiative launched by President Bola Tinubu in 2023 to address one of the biggest challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector by ensuring consumers are billed only for the electricity they use.
She said the inauguration featured the unveiling of the first batch of successful applicants, who will undergo a three-week intensive programme combining classroom instruction and practical training in Abuja.
According to her, the programme attracted nearly 220,000 applications from young Nigerians across the country.
Verheijen described the Presidential Metering Initiative as the largest metering programme in Nigeria’s history.
She said the training would subsequently expand to centres across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
Upon completion, participants will receive certification from the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), qualifying them as professional meter installers who meet national and international safety and competency standards.
Chairman of the Presidential Metering Initiative Board and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said the initiative extends beyond improving electricity metering to equipping young Nigerians with employable technical skills.
Represented by Edmund Nnaji, Executive Director of Finance and Administration at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRazaq urged state governments to support the programme.
Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the trainees would become the backbone of Nigeria’s smart metering workforce, adding that the initiative demonstrated that electricity reforms were creating jobs while strengthening the sector.
He also commended the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria (AMMON) for withdrawing its court case against the national meter deployment programme, describing the move as a major boost to the accelerated rollout of electricity meters.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the programme aligns with the ministry’s One Youth, Two Skills initiative by creating employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
The issues
Nigeria has long struggled with a shortage of electricity meters, resulting in widespread estimated billing and consumer complaints. Expanding local metering capacity is expected to improve billing transparency, boost revenue collection and create skilled jobs.
What’s being said
“The 5,000 young Nigerians being trained under this initiative will become the backbone of Nigeria’s smart metering workforce.” — Joseph Tegbe, Minister of Power
What’s next
The first batch of trainees will complete a three-week training programme before similar sessions are rolled out across the six geopolitical zones. Successful participants will receive NEMSA certification and support the nationwide deployment of smart meters.
Bottom line
The Power Force programme combines electricity sector reform with youth skills development, aiming to accelerate smart meter installation while creating a new generation of certified technicians.
