Minister Decries Lack of Technicians for 400,000 Imported Meters Amid Power Sector Challenges

Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has expressed deep concern over the lack of qualified local technicians to install about 400,000 imported electricity meters currently lying idle across the country. The minister said the situation reflects a major bottleneck in the implementation of the federal government’s National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), which aims to bridge the nation’s huge metering gap and reduce estimated billing for electricity consumers.

Adelabu, who disclosed this during a recent power sector stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, lamented that despite the government’s effort to import and distribute prepaid meters to electricity consumers, progress has been hindered by an acute shortage of certified meter installers. “We have over 400,000 meters already available in the country but they are yet to be installed because we don’t have enough trained personnel to carry out the work. This is a serious setback in our metering initiative,” the minister said.

He explained that the meters, procured through partnerships with private sector firms and international suppliers, were meant to accelerate the ongoing metering drive across the 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos). However, inadequate human capacity within the sector has made it difficult to deploy them efficiently to households and businesses. “It is unfortunate that while we are struggling to improve power supply and customer satisfaction, such an important intervention is being delayed by a skills gap,” Adelabu added.

According to him, the Ministry of Power, in collaboration with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), has begun developing a new framework to train and certify thousands of meter installers nationwide. The initiative is expected to create employment opportunities for Nigerian youths while addressing the manpower deficit in the power sector.

“We cannot continue to rely on a limited pool of installers. That’s why we are partnering with NAPTIN and other relevant agencies to roll out a comprehensive training and certification program. The goal is to ensure that every community has qualified technicians who can handle metering and maintenance effectively,” Adelabu said.

The minister emphasized that the government remains committed to achieving full metering coverage across the country. He stated that the ultimate goal of the NMMP is to ensure that all electricity consumers are billed accurately based on consumption, thereby eliminating the controversial estimated billing system that has caused widespread dissatisfaction among customers.

Adelabu also expressed frustration over the slow pace of meter deployment by electricity distribution companies, warning that the government would no longer tolerate inefficiency or excuses from the DisCos. He said that many DisCos have failed to meet their metering targets despite receiving government support and regulatory backing. “It is unacceptable that after years of effort, millions of Nigerians are still without meters. We must change the approach and hold everyone accountable,” he said.

He noted that the federal government has been working with international partners and local manufacturers to ramp up production of smart and standard meters. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), through its intervention program, has also provided funding to support meter acquisition under the NMMP. However, the installation gap continues to undermine the program’s impact.

Energy analysts say the current situation highlights a deeper structural issue in Nigeria’s power sector — the lack of technical expertise to support infrastructure expansion and modernization. According to power sector analyst, Dr. Adesina Adeyemi, “Nigeria’s metering challenge is not just about hardware availability; it’s about human capacity. The country must invest in technical training and skill development if it wants to achieve reliable power distribution.”

Dr. Adeyemi added that the shortage of installers is also a missed opportunity for job creation. “Meter installation can create thousands of decent jobs for young Nigerians if properly organized. Training programs should be integrated into national technical education systems,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Power Minister assured that the federal government is already engaging with local manufacturers to ensure that future metering projects incorporate skill transfer and local capacity building. He said that under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), new agreements will require foreign contractors to train Nigerian technicians as part of their project execution plans.

In addition, Adelabu reaffirmed the government’s plan to digitize the power sector through smart metering and advanced monitoring systems. “We are working towards a modern electricity market that relies on technology and data for efficiency. Metering is a crucial part of that transformation,” he stated.

The minister also disclosed that discussions are ongoing with development partners, including the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB), to fund additional training centers and provide tools for field technicians. He noted that the government’s long-term goal is to ensure self-sufficiency in meter production and installation within Nigeria.

Reacting to the minister’s statement, the President of the Nigerian Consumers Protection Network (NCPN), Mr. Kunle Olubiyo, urged the government to prioritize capacity building and ensure transparency in the meter distribution process. He said, “The delay in meter installation is not only frustrating consumers but also perpetuating inefficiencies in the billing system. If properly handled, metering can restore public trust in the electricity sector.”

As Nigeria continues to grapple with unstable power supply and public dissatisfaction over estimated billing, stakeholders believe that solving the metering bottleneck is key to improving sector performance. The inability to install available meters has not only slowed down progress but also exposed the urgent need for human capital development in the energy industry.

Adelabu, however, remained optimistic that with new training initiatives and tighter collaboration among stakeholders, the challenge would soon be resolved. “We are determined to fix this. Nigerians deserve transparency and fairness in electricity billing, and metering is the foundation of that process,” he concluded.

 

The unresolved installation gap serves as a reminder that bridging Nigeria’s power deficit requires not just investment in infrastructure, but also in the people who sustain it.