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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Energy & Infrastructure

FG begins training for 5,000 smart meter installers nationwide

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The Nigerian Federal Government has launched a training program for 5,000 smart electricity meter installers nationwide.
  • Nearly 220,000 young Nigerians applied for the limited slots, highlighting significant interest in the program.
  • The initiative aims to build Nigeria's smart metering workforce and improve electricity reforms by focusing on human capital development.

The Nigerian Federal Government has initiated a nationwide training program for 5,000 smart electricity meter installers, marking a significant step in the country's electricity reform efforts. The "Power Force" program, launched by the Ministry of Power, aims to create a skilled workforce for the deployment of smart meters.

Behind every successful metering programme must stand thousands of competent, certified and dedicated technicians.

— Joseph TegbeMinister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, highlighting the importance of skilled technicians for the metering program.

The Presidential Metering Initiative revealed that approximately 220,000 young Nigerians applied for the 5,000 available training positions, indicating a strong demand for such opportunities. The selected applicants will undergo a three-week intensive training course before being certified as meter installers.

Our electricity reforms are not merely about equipment and technology; they are equally about creating opportunities, building human capital and securing livelihoods.

— Joseph TegbeMinister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, explaining the broader goals of the electricity reforms.

Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, emphasized that the trained installers will form the backbone of Nigeria's smart metering workforce. He stated that electricity reforms are as much about people as they are about equipment, focusing on creating opportunities and building human capital. The initiative also saw the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria withdraw a previous court action against the program, which the Minister described as a pivotal decision removing a significant obstacle.

That singular decision has removed a significant obstacle to the accelerated deployment of electricity meters across the country.

— Joseph TegbeMinister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, commenting on the withdrawal of a court case by meter manufacturers.

Olu Verheijen, Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative, described the program as the largest metering initiative in Nigeria's history, established to address structural barriers in the electricity sector. She highlighted the program's potential to inspire widespread change, stating that "one young installer cannot transform Nigeria. But five thousand can inspire fifty thousand. And fifty thousand can inspire millions more."

The PMI was established to ensure that every Nigerian pays only for the electricity they actually use.

— Olu VerheijenOlu Verheijen, Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative, stating the program's objective.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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