President Bola Tinubu has launched a nationwide programme called Power Force to train 5,000 young Nigerians as electricity meter installers and technicians, in a fresh push to close the country’s persistent metering gap and create jobs across the power sector.
The president announced the initiative on Thursday in a post on his official X account, describing it as part of the Presidential Metering Initiative, which he set up to end estimated billing, protect consumers and strengthen the electricity market. According to Tinubu, the programme will give young Nigerians a pathway to learn a marketable skill while contributing to the rollout of meters nationwide. He said increasing the number of installed meters would allow households and businesses to pay only for the power they actually consume, rather than relying on estimated bills that have long frustrated electricity users across the country.
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The Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative, Olu Verheijen, said in a statement that the programme is a practical intervention designed to close critical skills gaps in meter installation while giving young Nigerians a direct role in national development. She said the first phase will begin in Abuja this month before expanding to the six geopolitical zones. Participants will undergo technical training delivered by the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, while the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency will oversee certification and compliance standards. Trainees who complete the programme will be linked with electricity distribution companies, meter manufacturers and other employers within the power value chain.
Tinubu said the programme is open to Nigerians who have completed secondary school, and a dedicated quota has been reserved for members of the National Youth Service Corps. He directed the Presidential Metering Initiative to work with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and other agencies to begin the programme within 30 days. Applicants will be able to register through the Presidential Metering Initiative portal, which opens on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said building a stronger power sector begins with investing in skilled people, while Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to giving young Nigerians practical skills and real pathways to work rather than handouts. Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described the initiative as one that connects opportunity with impact across the federation.
The launch comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with a wide metering deficit despite years of government intervention. More than seven million electricity customers remain on estimated billing even after over one trillion naira in funding through past metering schemes, a gap that has fuelled distrust among consumers wary of previous promises. Officials say expanding the pool of trained installers is central to closing that gap, improving transparency in billing and helping distribution companies collect revenue more reliably, which in turn is expected to support investment in more stable electricity supply across the country.
Tinubu urged eligible young Nigerians to seize the opportunity, saying it would allow them to learn a skill, earn a living with dignity and be part of efforts to end estimated billing nationwide.
