Federal Government launches first phase with 5,000 trainees, targets seven million smart meters to end estimated billing……
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced plans to train up to 500,000 Nigerians in smart meter installation as part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to transform the country’s electricity sector and tackle the long-standing challenge of estimated billing.
The programme officially commenced on Thursday with the launch of training for the first 5,000 participants under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), a scheme designed to expand access to smart meters while creating jobs and developing technical skills for young Nigerians.
Speaking through the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, at the inauguration of the programme at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) in Abuja, Tinubu said the initiative forms a key part of ongoing reforms aimed at building a more transparent, efficient and accountable electricity industry.
According to the President, widespread deployment of smart meters will ensure consumers pay only for the electricity they actually use while improving revenue collection for electricity distribution companies.
He said eliminating estimated billing remains a major priority of his administration, adding that reforms across the power sector are focused on restoring public confidence and improving service delivery.
“The transformation of Nigeria’s electricity sector will not occur overnight. It requires consistency, partnership, technical excellence and unwavering commitment to reform,” Tinubu said.
He assured Nigerians that the reforms would ultimately deliver a power sector that is more transparent, accountable, sustainable and responsive to the needs of consumers.
Beyond addressing electricity challenges, Tinubu described the Presidential Metering Initiative as a major employment and skills development programme that would provide thousands of young Nigerians with opportunities in the country’s growing energy sector.
“We are not stopping at 5,000. We will keep ramping up to 10,000, 15,000 and, ultimately, we may get to 500,000. This programme creates meaningful employment while preparing young Nigerians with future-ready technical skills,” he said.
The President explained that the government established the Power Force programme to build the skilled workforce required to support the nationwide installation of smart meters.
He expressed confidence that the pioneer trainees would become the backbone of the country’s metering programme, helping millions of homes and businesses receive professionally installed smart meters that meet approved technical and safety standards.
Tinubu also noted that the initiative would produce certified electrical and electronic professionals, strengthening Nigeria’s technical workforce for the future.
Describing smart metering as a critical component of electricity sector reform, he said accurate metering would replace uncertainty with transparency while giving consumers greater control over their electricity usage.
“Metering has a multiplier effect across the value chain. It empowers consumers to manage their energy usage while providing distribution companies with reliable revenue streams to improve service delivery,” he added.
FG targets deployment of seven million smart meters
The Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative and Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, disclosed that the Federal Government plans to install more than seven million smart meters under what she described as the largest metering programme in Nigeria’s history.
She said achieving that target would require a large pool of trained professionals capable of installing and maintaining the meters across the country.
“We’re deploying more than seven million meters as the largest metering programme in our nation’s history. But one truth became abundantly clear: seven million meters require thousands of skilled Nigerians. Capital can be raised, equipment can be procured, but no nation develops without capable people,” Verheijen said.
She revealed that almost 220,000 young Nigerians applied for the first 5,000 training positions, describing the overwhelming response as evidence of the country’s untapped human capital.
According to her, the programme will begin in Abuja before expanding to all six geopolitical zones to ensure nationwide participation.
She added that every graduate of the Power Force programme would receive professional training through NAPTIN, certification by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), and opportunities for employment with electricity distribution companies and meter providers.
Chairman of the Presidential Metering Initiative Board and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by Edmund Obiora Nnaji, said the establishment of PMI Smart Grid Development Limited had accelerated efforts to bridge Nigeria’s metering gap and improve electricity service delivery.
He urged state governments to complement the Federal Government’s efforts by creating additional opportunities for young people beyond the first batch of trainees.
NAPTIN Director-General, Ahmed Nagode, said the training programme combines classroom learning with practical sessions approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to ensure graduates meet national regulatory standards and international best practices.
He noted that the initiative would produce industry-ready professionals equipped for employment, entrepreneurship and long-term careers within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
Also speaking, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the programme aligns with the ministry’s One Youth, Two Skills initiative by equipping young Nigerians with practical, market-driven skills that promote employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to empowering youths through vocational and technical skills development rather than dependence on traditional white-collar jobs.
