Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emphasized that the power sector remains central to stimulating the country’s economy, particularly in the industrial, educational, and healthcare sectors.
He expressed the government’s full commitment to improving electricity supply and enhancing citizens’ livelihoods.
He made these remarks on Monday during a meeting at the State House with a delegation from Siemens Energy, led by Dietmar Siersdorfer, Managing Director for Middle East and Africa.
The President stated that the completion of the phased power project under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) – Siemens Energy will position Nigeria prominently on the continent by harnessing latent potential in human and material resources across various sectors.
Bola Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser for Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said: “There is no industrial growth or economic development without power. I believe that power is the most significant discovery of humanity in the last 1,000 years. I appreciate the partnership on this initiative. The progress of the project to date is notable, but it is not yet where we want it to be. We value the support and commitment of the German government and Siemens. Your investment and commitment align with Nigeria’s future. Our education, healthcare, and transportation all depend on energy, and without power, none of this is possible. We are taking it very seriously.”
The President also directed the expansion of major transformer substations from two to three phases to boost the country’s power supply.
“We are inspired and motivated. This is what we want to achieve on the continent. We want everyone to witness the glory of our economic recovery and the fight against poverty,” he added.
He assured the delegation that the government would continue providing the necessary resources for the power project.
Power Minister Adelabu stated that the sector had achieved critical milestones, including decentralization and liberalization. He noted the signing of the Electricity Act 2023 and the development of a National Integrated Electricity Policy after 24 years, attracting over $2.2 billion in fresh investments. Fifteen state electricity markets have since been activated.
Adelabu highlighted that since the signing of the Accelerated Agreement at COP28 in Dubai (December 2023), attended by President Tinubu and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the PPI has recorded significant milestones.
- Under the Pilot Phase (Phase Zero), major infrastructure upgrades and capacity enhancements have improved grid stability and reliability nationwide.
- Siemens Energy has delivered and commissioned 10 units of 132/33kV mobile substations, three 75/100MVA transformers, and seven 60/66MVA transformers across key load centers, adding 984MW of transmission capacity.
In December 2024, the Federal Executive Council approved the EPC contract for Phase One, Batch One, covering upgrades and new installations of five key substations in Abeokuta, Offa, Ayede-Ibadan, Sokoto, and Onitsha. Civil works mobilization has been finalized, manufacturing is ongoing, and two substations are targeted for completion by the end of 2026.
Phase One, Batch Two includes six Brownfield and ten Greenfield substations with a cumulative capacity of 4,104MW, covering key load centers nationwide.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun stated that the PPI would enhance Nigeria’s ease of doing business, create jobs, and reduce poverty.
Dietmar Siersdorfer noted that two of the five Batch One substations are expected to be completed by December 2026. A training center is being constructed to develop local talent in electrical engineering, generate jobs, and transfer technology.
“The PPI is not just a project but a platform for long-term development and prosperity,” he stated, adding that Nigerian professionals will be directly engaged at project sites, creating thousands of local jobs through services, accommodation, and transportation.
Johannes Lehne, representing the German Ambassador, assured President Tinubu of continued support and collaboration from the German government.
Discover more from Energy News Africa
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.