Nigeria President Tinubu launches Power Force to train 5,000 youths for smart meters

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria introduced the Power Force programme, a federation‑led initiative under the Presidential Metering Initiative aimed at training 5,000 young Nigerians to support accelerated deployment of smart electricity meters.

The scheme seeks to create jobs, close skill gaps in meter installation, improve billing transparency, increase revenue collection and enhance service delivery. Training will be delivered by the National Power Training Institute, certification overseen by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, and participants will be linked to distribution companies and meter providers.

The first phase begins in Abuja in July 2026 and will roll out across the six geopolitical zones. Officials including Nigeria Governors Forum chair Abdul‑Rahman Abdul‑Razaq, Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe, and Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande stressed that the programme aligns with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for youth empowerment and power sector reform. Executive Secretary of PMI Olu Arowolo Verheijen said, “Metering restores trust… Power Force helps us scale that progress faster.”