From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal Government has unveiled Power Force, a new national initiative aimed at training 5,000 young Nigerians to support the accelerated deployment of smart electricity meters across the country.
Launched by President Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday, the programme will be implemented through the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development. It is expected to commence in Abuja in July before being rolled out across the six geopolitical zones.
According to the Presidency, the initiative is designed to address critical skills shortages in meter installation while providing young Nigerians with practical technical training, recognised certification, and pathways to employment and entrepreneurship within the power value chain.
The government said Power Force forms part of the Tinubu administration’s broader strategy to improve the performance and financial sustainability of Nigeria’s electricity sector.
It noted that expanded metering would help reduce estimated billing, improve transparency in customer charges, strengthen revenue collection, and enhance service delivery.
Participants will undergo intensive technical training at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), while certification and compliance standards will be overseen by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).
Successful trainees will be linked with electricity distribution companies, meter providers, and other industry partners for deployment opportunities.
Speaking on the initiative, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described Power Force as a federation-wide programme that combines youth empowerment with improved electricity access.
“Power Force is a federation initiative that connects opportunity with impact, creating jobs for young Nigerians while strengthening electricity access in every state,” he said.
Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the programme would strengthen the country’s power sector by investing in skilled manpower.
“A stronger power sector begins with skilled people. Power Force invests in Nigerian talent to power our nation’s future,” the minister said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for young Nigerians through practical skills acquisition.
“Young Nigerians want opportunity, not handouts. Power Force gives them practical skills, recognised certification, and a direct pathway to meaningful work that supports national development,” Olawande said.
Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative, Mrs. Olu Arowolo Verheijen, said wider metering would restore consumer confidence in the electricity sector by ensuring customers pay only for the electricity they consume.
“Metering restores trust. When customers pay only for what they use, revenues improve, investment follows, and service gets better. Power Force helps us scale that progress faster,” she said.
The Federal Government announced that applications for the first cohort of trainees will open on July 4, 2026, and remain open for two weeks. Interested applicants are expected to apply through the Presidential Metering Initiative and NAPTIN portals, where eligibility criteria and programme details have been provided.
The government expressed optimism that the initiative would not only accelerate the nationwide rollout of smart meters but also equip thousands of young Nigerians with employable technical skills while advancing the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the power sector.
