Nigerian Government Launches 7 Million Smart Meter Expansion in Abuja

Nigeria's President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Thursday said the Federal Government is pushing ahead with power sector reforms aimed at giving Nigerians more reliable electricity, ending estimated billing and improving service delivery, as the government launched a national smart metering programme in Abuja.

The training of 5,000 smart meter technicians formed part of the plan, but the central focus was the drive to strengthen Nigeria's electricity system through the rollout of more than seven million smart meters.

The plan is relevant because millions of homes and businesses still lack prepaid meters and rely on estimated bills.

The government's latest step links directly to efforts to fix long-standing problems in the electricity sector. Smart meters are meant to record actual electricity use, helping consumers pay only for what they use while allowing electricity distribution companies to bill more accurately.

The government also wants the programme to improve trust between customers and electricity providers as it works to improve power supply.

Smart meters drive power reform

Represented by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, Tinubu said lasting improvement in electricity supply would depend on steady reforms, technical capacity and cooperation among all parties in the sector.

He said every Nigerian should pay only for electricity actually used and that smart metering would replace estimated billing with accurate measurement.

"The transformation of Nigeria's electricity sector will not occur overnight. It requires consistency, partnership, technical excellence and unwavering commitment to reform," the President said.

Tinubu also assured Nigerians that the government was building an electricity sector that is more transparent, accountable, sustainable and responsive to consumers.

He said smart metering would improve the entire electricity value chain by replacing inaccurate billing with reliable records, giving consumers better control of their electricity use while helping distribution companies receive proper payment for energy supplied.

The President noted that the government created the Power Force programme to ensure enough trained workers are available to install smart meters professionally across the country as the metering plan expands.

Seven million meters planned nationwide

Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative and Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, said the government plans to deploy more than seven million smart meters under what she called the biggest metering programme in Nigeria's history.

She said the size of the project made the training of qualified workers necessary, noting that equipment alone could not deliver the programme without skilled people to install and maintain the meters.

Verheijen disclosed that about 220,000 young Nigerians applied for only 5,000 training spaces, showing strong interest in the programme.

She said training would begin in Abuja before extending to all six geopolitical zones to ensure participation from every part of the country.

Each graduate will receive training through the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, certification by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency and a route into jobs with electricity distribution companies and meter providers.

Chairman of the Presidential Metering Initiative Board and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by Edmund Obiora Nnaji, said the establishment of PMI Smart Grid Development Limited had helped speed up work to reduce Nigeria's metering gap and improve electricity delivery.

NAPTIN Director-General Ahmed Nagode said participants would undergo classroom lessons and practical training approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to prepare them for work in the electricity industry.

Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande said the programme also supports the government's youth empowerment plan by giving young Nigerians practical training that can lead to employment and self-reliance.

The Presidential Metering Initiative is being implemented through partnerships involving NEMSA, NAPTIN, the World Bank and other stakeholders as the government seeks to build a more reliable and efficient electricity system for homes and businesses nationwide.