As part of preparations for Nigeria’s ambitious Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), a team from Smart Grid Development Limited (SGDL) has carried out a technical and operational assessment of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) National Meter Test Station (NMTS) in Kano.
The visit, which took place from 23rd to 25th August 2025, marks the first in a nationwide series of site assessments aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to test, certify, and deploy high-quality electricity meters under the federal government’s metering reform programme.
“Accurate metering lies at the heart of Nigeria’s power sector transformation. The Kano test station has immense potential to anchor this vision in the Northwest,” said Engr. Lawal Lawal, Technical Director at SGDL.
A Strategic Facility with Untapped Potential
Established in 2020, the Kano National Meter Test Station was designed to serve as a regional hub for meter testing and calibration in northern Nigeria. The facility features five laboratories, one of which is already fitted with a 20-position Zera stationary test bench. Once fully operational, the center will handle meter testing, calibration, and certification services, while also providing inspection and laboratory support to utilities and private sector players.
The test station will operate under two key divisions — the Meter and Laboratory Services Department (MLSD) and the Inspectorate Field Office — with a long-term plan to include a National Meter Museum showcasing the evolution of metering technology in Nigeria.
The Kano assessment is the first in a series of nationwide visits to NEMSA’s meter testing facilities in Port Harcourt, Lagos (Oshodi), and Kaduna, forming a comprehensive readiness review to support Nigeria’s metering reform drive.
The Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) aims to deploy millions of smart meters across the country to eliminate estimated billing, strengthen consumer confidence, and improve the financial sustainability of the electricity sector. Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of these meters through facilities like NEMSA’s Kano station is central to achieving these goals.
About NEMSA
The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) is the statutory authority responsible for the enforcement of technical standards and regulations in Nigeria’s electricity sector, including testing, certification, and inspection of all electrical installations and meters.