President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to improving electricity supply and enhancing the livelihoods of Nigerians, assuring Siemens Energy of the Federal Government’s full support for the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).
Speaking on Monday at the State House, Abuja, during a meeting with a delegation from Siemens Energy led by Mr. Dietmar Siersdorfer, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, the President emphasized that the power sector remains central to Nigeria’s economic revitalization, particularly in the industrial, educational, and healthcare sectors.
The meeting was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu; and the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Ms. Olu Verheijen.
President Tinubu stated that the completion of the phased PPI project would position Nigeria as a continental leader by unlocking the nation’s human and material potential.
“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,” the President said.
“I appreciate the partnership on this initiative. The progress made so far is commendable, but we are not yet where we want to be. We value the support and commitment of the German government and Siemens. Your investment aligns perfectly with the future we envision for this country.
“Our education, healthcare, and transportation systems all depend on energy, and without power, our objectives remain impossible. We are taking this very seriously.”
The President also directed that some major transformer substations under the PPI be expanded from two to three phases to further boost national power supply.
“We are inspired and optimistic. This is the kind of partnership we want to see on the continent — one that reflects our vision of economic recovery and the eradication of poverty,” he said.
President Tinubu assured the Siemens delegation that the Federal Government would continue to provide the necessary resources to ensure the timely completion of the project.
In his remarks, the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, highlighted major milestones achieved in the sector, including the decentralization and liberalization of the electricity market.
He noted that following the signing of the Electricity Act 2023 and the development of a National Integrated Electricity Policy — the first in 24 years — Nigeria has attracted over $2.2 billion in new investments and activated 15 state electricity markets.
Mr. Adelabu recalled that since the signing of the Accelerated Implementation Agreement at COP28 in Dubai in December 2023 — attended by President Tinubu and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz — the PPI had recorded notable progress across its phases.
“Under the Pilot Phase (Phase Zero), we have achieved significant infrastructure upgrades and capacity enhancements that are already improving grid stability and reliability across the country,” the Minister said.
“Siemens Energy has successfully delivered and commissioned 10 units of 132/33kV mobile substations, three units of 75/100MVA transformers, and seven units of 60/66MVA transformers across key load centres nationwide — collectively adding 984MW of transmission capacity to the grid.”
The Minister added that in December 2024, the Federal Executive Council approved the commencement of the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for Phase One, Batch One of the PPI, covering the upgrade, installation, and commissioning of five key substations located in Abeokuta, Offa, Ayede-Ibadan, Sokoto, and Onitsha.
“Civil works mobilisation plans for all five locations have been finalized, and equipment manufacturing is ongoing. Two of the substations are targeted for completion by the end of 2026,” Mr. Adelabu stated.
“As we consolidate gains from the Pilot Phase and Phase One (Batch One), we are preparing to advance to Phase One (Batch Two), which will involve constructing new substations and upgrading existing ones across key load centres nationwide. Collectively, this phase will deliver 16 substations — six Brownfield and ten Greenfield — with a combined impact of 4,104MW.”
The Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, emphasized that the completion of the PPI would enhance Nigeria’s ease of doing business, create jobs for the youth, and help reduce poverty.
On his part, the Siemens Energy Managing Director, Mr. Siersdorfer, confirmed that two of the five substations under construction are expected to be completed by December 2026.
He also disclosed that a training centre is being developed to build local capacity in electrical engineering, promote technology transfer, and strengthen Nigeria’s local content participation.
“The PPI is not just a project; it is a platform for long-term development and prosperity,” Mr. Siersdorfer said.
“Nigerian professionals will be directly engaged at all five project sites under Batch One, while thousands of jobs will be created in local communities through ancillary services such as accommodation, transportation, and logistics.”
Representing the German Ambassador, Mr. Johannes Lehne reaffirmed the German government’s continued partnership and support for Nigeria’s energy development agenda.
Ends
