The Federal Government has officially launched the Power Force Programme under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), a nationwide workforce development scheme designed to train 5,000 young Nigerians as certified electricity meter installation technicians to accelerate the country’s metering rollout and strengthen the power sector.
Speaking at the official flag-off ceremony on Thursday, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, described the initiative as a critical intervention that would address both Nigeria’s electricity metering deficit and youth unemployment while supporting ongoing reforms aimed at making the electricity market financially sustainable.
The minister said the programme reflected the Tinubu administration’s commitment to transforming the power sector by investing in infrastructure as well as human capital.
Tegbe noted that inadequate metering remains one of the biggest structural challenges confronting the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), contributing significantly to the sector’s long-standing liquidity crisis.
“Where electricity consumed cannot be accurately measured, revenue cannot be accurately collected. Where revenue is uncertain, investments decline, infrastructure deteriorates, and ultimately consumers suffer,” he said.
According to him, closing the metering gap is essential to restoring financial discipline, improving service delivery and attracting private sector investment into the electricity industry.
He reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring that electricity consumers pay only for the energy they consume while service providers receive payment for electricity genuinely supplied.
“The guiding principle is simple: every Nigerian deserves to pay only for the actual electricity consumed, and every service provider deserves to be paid for the electricity genuinely supplied. That principle is what smart metering makes possible,” Tegbe stated.
The minister explained that widespread deployment of smart meters would eliminate estimated billing, reduce disputes between consumers and electricity distribution companies (DisCos), improve transparency and strengthen public confidence in the power sector.
He also welcomed the recent withdrawal of the court action instituted by the Association of Meter Asset Providers of Nigeria (AMMON), describing the decision as a major breakthrough that would accelerate meter deployment across the country.
Tegbe commended AMMON, the Presidential Metering Initiative, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Meter Asset Providers and other stakeholders for embracing dialogue in the national interest.
Highlighting the objectives of the Power Force Programme, the minister said the shortage of skilled personnel had been identified as a major obstacle to achieving universal metering.
“The 5,000 young Nigerians being trained under this initiative will become the backbone of Nigeria’s smart metering workforce. They will help ensure that millions of households and businesses receive professionally installed meters that meet the highest technical and safety standards,” he said.
Beyond supporting the power sector, he said the initiative would create employment opportunities, develop technical skills among young Nigerians, promote local content and contribute to economic growth.
Addressing the first batch of trainees, Tegbe urged them to approach the programme with discipline and professionalism, noting that the skills they acquire would not only shape their careers but also contribute to Nigeria’s economic transformation.
He expressed appreciation to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the Presidential Metering Initiative, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), electricity distribution companies, development partners and other stakeholders for making the programme a reality.
Declaring the programme open on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building a more transparent, accountable and sustainable electricity sector capable of delivering improved service to Nigerians.
