In a stark revelation exposing deep-rooted challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has decried a severe shortage of trained technicians, leaving more than 400,000 recently imported smart meters uninstalled and gathering dust. The disclosure, made during the ongoing Nigeria Energy Conference in Lagos, underscores a glaring human capacity deficit that threatens the government’s ambitious push for universal metering and reliable power supply, even as youth unemployment soars across the nation.
Incident Details and Minister’s Remarks
Speaking at the high-profile forum themed “Powering Nigeria through Investment, Innovation, and Partnership,” Adelabu painted a troubling picture of the sector’s workforce woes. He revealed that Nigeria imported over 500,000 prepaid meters just last month to bridge the estimated six-million-unit metering gap – a key driver of estimated billing complaints and revenue losses for Distribution Companies (DisCos). Yet, fewer than 100,000 have been deployed, with the bulk – approximately 400,000 units – stalled due to an acute lack of certified installers.
“We brought in meters last month, over 500,000 meters. I’m telling you; we have not installed 100,000. Why? Absence of installers. And we say youths are unemployed,” Adelabu lamented, highlighting the irony amid Nigeria’s teeming jobless population. He warned that addressing the full six-million-meter deficit could take up to five years at the current pace, without a surge in skilled labor.
The minister’s comments come against the backdrop of the ₦700 billion Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), launched to roll out two million meters annually over the next five years. Backed by the World Bank and funded through the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), the program aims to eliminate estimated billing by 2026 and bolster sector transparency. However, Adelabu stressed that without parallel investments in training, these efforts risk falling short, exacerbating consumer frustration and hindering private sector participation.
Adelabu also commissioned upgraded facilities at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), including simulation labs, workshop blocks, and accommodation for trainees. These enhancements, developed with international partners, will introduce new modules on renewables like solar and wind – aligning with Nigeria’s energy transition goals under the Electricity Act 2023. “For us to develop engineers and expertise across all segments of the sector value chain, we must train our people,” he emphasized, noting the decline in structured technical education since the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
Broader Context and Implications for the Niger Delta
This skills bottleneck is not isolated but symptomatic of broader human capital erosion in Nigeria’s power industry, where technical training has waned post-privatization. In the Niger Delta – home to vast gas reserves that fuel much of the nation’s thermal plants – the issue hits harder. Regions like Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa, which supply over 80% of Nigeria’s gas for electricity generation, face compounded risks: uninstalled meters perpetuate billing disputes, while a lack of local technicians delays grid expansions tied to gas flare reduction and renewable integration.
Experts link the gap to outdated curricula in polytechnics and universities, coupled with limited apprenticeships. The minister’s call echoes recent Senate retreats urging DisCos to invest in workforce development, amid accusations of their frustrating reforms through underinvestment. With Nigeria’s power demand projected to hit 30,000 megawatts by 2030, failure to upskill could idle not just meters but entire generation assets, costing billions in lost revenue and stifling industrial growth in oil-dependent Delta communities.
Stakeholders at the conference, including private investors and regulators from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), hailed Adelabu’s candor but demanded timelines. NAPTIN’s Director-General, Engr. Abdullahi Kabir Yusuf, pledged to certify 10,000 installers by mid-2026 through accelerated programs. Youth advocacy groups, however, criticized the government for not fast-tracking vocational schemes, urging public-private partnerships to prioritize Niger Delta youths in training quotas.
Official Response and Next Steps
In his closing address, Adelabu reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, tying skills development to economic diversification. “This is a wake-up call. We cannot afford to let imported solutions rot while our people idle,” he said. The Ministry of Power has directed NAPTIN to launch a nationwide installer certification drive, targeting 50,000 trainees in the first year, with incentives like stipends and job placements in DisCos.
Residents in metering-deficient areas, particularly in the Niger Delta where blackouts fuel militancy risks, are encouraged to register for free meters via the NERC portal (nerc.gov.ng) or local DisCo offices. As Nigeria eyes 20,000 megawatts by 2026, bridging this skills chasm could unlock not just power reliability but thousands of green jobs in the region.
