The Federal Government has commenced the training of the first batch of 5,000 smart electricity meter installers under the Power Force Programme, with authorities disclosing that nearly 220,000 young Nigerians applied for the limited slots.
The programme, an initiative under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), was officially flagged off on Thursday at the headquarters of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) in Abuja.
The event also marked the unveiling of the first cohort of trainees, who will undergo a three-week intensive programme comprising practical and classroom sessions before being deployed nationwide as certified smart meter installers.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, described the trainees as the foundation of Nigeria’s smart metering workforce, saying the programme would not only improve electricity service delivery but also create employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
“Behind every successful metering programme must stand thousands of competent, certified and dedicated technicians. The 5,000 young Nigerians being trained under this initiative will become the backbone of Nigeria’s smart metering workforce,” Tegbe said.
The minister said the Federal Government’s electricity sector reforms extend beyond infrastructure development to include human capital development and job creation.
“Our electricity reforms are not merely about equipment and technology; they are equally about creating opportunities, building human capital and securing livelihoods,” he added.
Tegbe also commended the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria (AMMON) for withdrawing a legal action challenging the meter deployment programme, describing the move as a significant boost to the Federal Government’s efforts to accelerate smart meter rollout across the country.
“That singular decision has removed a significant obstacle to the accelerated deployment of electricity meters across the country,” he said.
Also speaking, Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative and Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen, described the PMI as the largest metering programme in Nigeria’s history, established by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023 to eliminate estimated billing and improve electricity accountability.
“The PMI was established to ensure that every Nigerian pays only for the electricity they actually use,” she said.
Verheijen revealed that close to 220,000 applications were received for the 5,000 available positions, describing the overwhelming response as evidence of Nigerian youths’ eagerness to participate in national development.
“One young installer cannot transform Nigeria. But five thousand can inspire fifty thousand. And fifty thousand can inspire millions more. That is how movements begin—one opportunity, one person, one act of service at a time,” she stated.
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, said the initiative would not only improve the power sector but also provide direct economic opportunities for young Nigerians.
He urged state governments to support the programme by expanding training opportunities beyond the initial 5,000 participants.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the initiative aligns with the ministry’s One Youth, Two Skills programme and reflects the Tinubu administration’s commitment to youth empowerment.
“This is not just the launch of a training programme; it is about creating jobs and opportunities for Nigerian youths to contribute to national development. President Tinubu’s administration has demonstrated that Nigeria’s ministries, departments and agencies can collaborate effectively to ensure the dividends of democracy reach every Nigerian,” Olawande said.
The Federal Government said the training programme would subsequently be extended to centres across the six geopolitical zones.
Upon completion of the programme, participants will receive certification from the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), qualifying them as certified smart meter installers in accordance with national and international safety and competency standards.
The flag-off ceremony was attended by the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi, the Managing Director of NAPTIN, Ahmed Bolaji Nagode, the Managing Director of NEMSA, Adesayo Michael, and other stakeholders in the power sector.
