Business

Nigeria Steps Up Smart Meter Deployment with Installer Training Programme

Published

1 day ago

July 24, 2026

Preport

‎Nigeria’s efforts to scale up delivery of seven million smart electricity meters and close its metering gap received a boost on Thursday, with the flag-off in Abuja of POWER FORCE, a training programme that will produce 5,000-meter installers across the country.
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‎The Power Force programme is being implemented under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023. The flag-off ceremony, held at the headquarters of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), also featured the unveiling of the first batch of selected applicants, who will undergo a three-week intensive practical and classroom training in Abuja.
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‎Close to 220,000 submissions were received from interested young Nigerians across the country during the application period.
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‎Dignitaries in attendance at the event included the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe; the Minister of Youth Development, Ayo Olawande; the Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative and Special Adviser to the President on Oil and Gas, Olu Arowolo Verheijen; and the Project Director of the PMI, Obafemi Solebo. The Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), who also chairs the PMI Board, His Excellency Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, was represented at the event by Mr Edmund Obiora Nnaji, Executive Director, Finance and Administration at the NGF.
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‎Other attendees included the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Ayo Gbeleyi; the Managing Director of NAPTIN, Mr Ahmed Bolaji Nagode; and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Mr Adesayo Olusegun Michael.
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‎In his address, Governor Abdulrazaq said, “PMI is not just about fixing the finances of the power sector through metering. It is also about impacting the lives of young Nigerians, through training and skills development.” He called on fellow governors to explore “supporting this Power Force initiative with a view to expanding the pool beyond the initial five thousand trainees being targeted.”
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‎Power Minister Tegbe said, “Behind every successful metering programme must stand thousands of competent, certified and dedicated technicians. The 5,000 young Nigerians being trained under this initiative will become the backbone of Nigeria’s smart metering workforce.”
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‎The Power Force initiative, he added, “demonstrates that our electricity reforms are not merely about equipment and technology; they are equally about creating opportunities, building human capital and securing livelihoods.”
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‎He commended the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria (AMMON) for withdrawing a court action it had instituted against the meter deployment programme, noting that “that singular decision has removed a significant obstacle to the accelerated deployment of electricity meters across the country.”
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‎Youth Minister Olawande said Power Force is directly supporting his Ministry’s “One Youth, Two Skills” initiative. “This is not just the launch of a training programme; it is about creating jobs and opportunities for Nigerian youths to contribute to national development,” he said.
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‎He added, “President Tinubu’s administration has demonstrated that Nigeria’s federal ministries, departments and agencies can have the force of collaboration in making sure the dividends of democracy get to everybody in the country.”
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‎Special Adviser Verheijen described the PMI as the largest metering programme in the history of Nigeria, established under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “to solve one of the biggest barriers to a reliable electricity sector: ensuring that every Nigerian pays only for the electricity they actually use.”
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‎She added, “One young installer cannot transform Nigeria. But five thousand can inspire fifty thousand. And fifty thousand can inspire millions more. That is how movements begin. One opportunity. One person. One act of service at a time.”
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‎Following the Abuja launch, the Power Force training will expand to various centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Upon completion, trainees will receive formal certification by NEMSA as qualified meter installers who have met national and international competence and safety standards.

The post Nigeria Steps Up Smart Meter Deployment with Installer Training Programme appeared first on Business Today NG.

Related Topics:Deployment Installer Meter Nigeria Programme smart STEPS training

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Abuja-bound Aero Contractors flight makes emergency return to Lagos over ‘technical issue’

Published

3 hours ago

July 25, 2026

Preport

Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria Limited.jpg

An Aero Contractors flight travelling from Lagos to Abuja on Saturday morning returned to its departure airport after the crew reported a technical issue while the aircraft was airborne.

The aircraft, which departed Lagos at about 7:30 a.m., had travelled part of the route mid air before the flight crew decided to discontinue the journey and return to Lagos as a precautionary safety measure.

Passengers were safely evacuated after the aircraft landed, and no injuries were reported.

A passenger aboard the flight told PREMIUM TIMES that the cabin became unusually hot while the aircraft was in the air, causing anxiety among passengers.

According to the passenger, the crew informed those on board that the aircraft had developed a technical problem and would return to Lagos but did not disclose the exact nature of the fault.

“There was a lot of panic because people did not know exactly what had happened. We were only told there was a technical problem and that we had to return to Lagos,” the passenger said.

As of 10:10 a.m., the affected passengers had begun boarding another Aero Contractors aircraft to continue their journey to Abuja, according to one of the passengers who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES.

PREMIUM TIMES contacted Aero Contractors for comments on the incident, including the nature of the reported technical issue, the reason for the aircraft’s return to Lagos and the arrangements made for affected passengers.

However, the airline had yet to respond as of the time this report was filed.

Recent incidents

Saturday’s occurrence comes about two months after a Max Air flight from Abuja to Katsina made an emergency return to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport shortly after take-off following a reported technical fault.

As previously reported by PREMIUM TIMES, passengers on the May 2026 flight recounted hearing loud banging sounds from the aircraft before it reportedly lost altitude briefly and struggled to stabilise, prompting the pilot to return to Abuja as a safety precaution. The aircraft landed safely, and no injuries were reported.

READ ALSO: Benin runway excursion not crash or emergency landing Enugu Air CEO

The Aero Contractors incident also comes amid increased public attention to airline operations following Thursday’s runway excursion involving an Enugu Air Embraer E170 at Benin Airport.

Although all 63 passengers and five crew members escaped unhurt, the occurrence disrupted flight operations after the runway was temporarily closed, forcing Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines to suspend flights to and from Benin while aircraft recovery and safety assessments were carried out.

While the circumstances surrounding the Aero Contractors, Max Air and Enugu Air incidents differ, they have renewed attention on operational reliability and safety across Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Business

NIA Boss Commends Lagos for Turning Building Insurance Law Into Protection

Published

11 hours ago

July 25, 2026

Preport

The Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) on Friday applauded the Lagos State Government for transforming building insurance from a theoretical legal requirement into a practical shield for lives and property.

Speaking at the official launch of the Lagos State Building Insurance Scheme, the Chairman of NIA and Managing Director/CEO of Rex Insurance Ltd, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration for bridging the long-standing gap between policy and enforcement.

She said, “Today is not merely the launch of a new insurance scheme. It is the launch of a new way of protecting lives, property, and the future of Lagos State. This initiative demonstrates what is possible when government, regulators, and the insurance industry work together with a shared purpose to build a safer, more resilient society.

“Building insurance has existed in our laws for many years. What has often been missing is effective implementation. Today, Lagos State is bridging that gap. By combining geospatial intelligence, digital technology, and structured enforcement, the State is transforming a legal requirement into practical protection for its people. That is worthy of recognition.

“More importantly, it sends a powerful message that insurance is not an afterthought following disaster; it is an essential part of building safer communities before disaster occurs.

“Behind every building is more than bricks and concrete. There are families. There are businesses. There are livelihoods. There are dreams built over many years. When a building collapses, when fire destroys properties, or when floods devastate communities, it is not only infrastructure that is lost—it is hope, opportunity, and financial security.

“Insurance cannot prevent every tragedy. But it can ensure that tragedy does not become permanent hardship. That is why I say today, especially to property owners and developers: Insurance is not a burden placed upon you, but a protection extended to you.

“It is one of the smartest investments anyone can make in safeguarding lives, assets, and the future.

“This Scheme is not only good for Lagos; it is good for Nigeria. It demonstrates that compulsory insurance, when supported by strong institutions, effective technology, and stakeholder collaboration, can simultaneously protect citizens, strengthen public confidence, and deepen insurance penetration.”

On the part of the NIA, she added, “For our member companies, this represents an opportunity and a responsibility: an opportunity to extend protection to more Nigerians, and a responsibility to deliver professional service, fair underwriting, and prompt claims settlement.

“As our regulator has consistently reminded us, the greatest asset of our industry is trust. Every policy issued under this Scheme is an opportunity to strengthen that trust. Every claim settled promptly is an opportunity to reinforce public confidence.

“My hope is that what Lagos has begun today will inspire similar initiatives across other states of the Federation. The challenges of fire, flooding, and building collapse are not unique to Lagos. The Nigerian Insurers Association stands ready to work with other state governments to support practical initiatives that improve compliance, strengthen resilience, and expand access to insurance protection.”

She assured that the Association will continue to support its member companies while working closely with government agencies and regulators. “We will promote public awareness of the value of insurance and continue to champion an insurance industry that is professional, trusted, and responsive.

The post NIA Boss Commends Lagos for Turning Building Insurance Law Into Protection appeared first on Business Today NG.