ABUJA, Nigeria — The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has launched the Power Force Programme, a national initiative under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) aimed at training 5,000 young Nigerians as certified meter installation technicians to bridge the country’s metering gap and strengthen the electricity value chain.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the minister described the programme as a strategic response to one of the Nigerian power sector’s most persistent structural challenges—the metering deficit—which has contributed significantly to poor revenue collection and liquidity constraints across the electricity industry.

According to Tegbe, accurate electricity metering is fundamental to ensuring efficient billing, improving revenue generation, attracting investment, and enhancing service delivery throughout the power sector.
“Where electricity consumption cannot be accurately measured, revenue cannot be reliably collected. And where revenue is uncertain, investment declines and service delivery suffers,” the minister said.

He stressed that the success of the Presidential Metering Initiative depends not only on the availability of smart meters but also on a skilled workforce capable of installing and maintaining them.

“Meters do not install themselves. Behind every successful metering programme must stand thousands of competent, certified and dedicated technicians,” Tegbe stated.
The minister noted that beyond addressing technical challenges in the electricity sector, the Power Force Programme represents a significant investment in Nigeria’s human capital by creating employment opportunities, equipping young people with future-ready technical skills, and promoting local content development.

He explained that the 5,000 trainees would form the backbone of Nigeria’s government-trained smart metering workforce, supporting the nationwide rollout of smart meters under the Presidential Metering Initiative.

Tegbe congratulated the first batch of participants, describing them as pioneers who would play a crucial role in transforming electricity metering and improving power sector efficiency across the country.
The Power Force Programme forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda to improve electricity access, modernise the power sector, enhance customer service, and stimulate economic growth through sustainable energy reforms.

The initiative is expected to accelerate the deployment of smart meters nationwide while creating thousands of skilled jobs for Nigerian youths, thereby contributing to improved electricity accountability, reduced estimated billing, and increased investor confidence in the country’s power sector.