President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday assured the technical contractor handling the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), Siemens Energy, of his administration’s full commitment to improving the country’s electricity supply and enhancing livelihoods.
In a press release titled “We’re Taking Power Very Seriously to Enhance the Livelihoods of Nigerians,” issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Tinubu noted that the power sector remains central to stimulating Nigeria’s economy, particularly in the industrial, educational, and healthcare sectors.
At a meeting with a delegation from Siemens Energy, led by Dietmar Siersdorfer, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, at the State House, Abuja, the President reiterated his administration’s determination to see the project through.
Also in attendance were Vice President Kashim Shettima, Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, and Special Adviser on Energy Olu Verheijen.
The President stated that completing the phased power project would give Nigeria a place of pride on the continent by harnessing its human and material potential across various sectors.
“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, and we can feel it — but it is not yet where we want it to be.
We appreciate the support and commitment of the German government and Siemens. The investment you are making and your commitment align with the future of this country.
Our education, healthcare, and transportation all depend on energy, and without power, it is an impossible objective. We are taking it very seriously,” he said.
The President also directed the expansion of major transformer substations from two to three phases to boost the country’s power supply.
“We are all inspired and happy. This is what we want to achieve on the continent. We want everyone to see the glory of our economic recovery and the banishment of poverty,” he added.
Tinubu assured the delegation that the federal government will continue to provide the resources needed for the success of the power project.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said the sector had achieved several key milestones, including the decentralisation and liberalisation of Nigeria’s electricity market.
He explained that President Tinubu signed the Electricity Act 2023, while a National Integrated Electricity Policy was developed for the first time in 24 years — attracting more than $2.2 billion in new investments and leading to the activation of fifteen state electricity markets.
“Since the signing of the Accelerated Agreement at COP28 in Dubai in December 2023 — an event you personally attended alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz — the PPI has recorded notable milestones across its implementation phases,” Adelabu said.
Under the Pilot Phase (Phase Zero), Adelabu noted that significant infrastructure upgrades and capacity improvements had already begun enhancing grid stability and reliability across the country.
He revealed that Siemens Energy had 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, adding 984MW of transmission capacity to the national grid.
Adelabu further informed the President that in December 2024, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the commencement of the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for Phase One, Batch One of the PPI.
He said the scope includes the upgrade, installation, and commissioning of five key substations located in Abeokuta, Offa, Ayede-Ibadan, Sokoto, and Onitsha.
“Plans for civil works mobilisation across all five locations have been finalised. Concurrent manufacturing of the required equipment is ongoing, and two of the five substations are targeted for completion by the end of 2026.
As we consolidate the gains from the Pilot Phase and Phase One–First Batch, we are also preparing to advance to Phase One–Batch Two, which involves constructing new substations and upgrading existing ones across key load centres nationwide. Collectively, Phase One–Batch Two of the PPI comprises six Brownfield and ten Greenfield substations, with a cumulative impact of 4,104MW,” Adelabu said.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, added that completing the PPI would enhance Nigeria’s ease of doing business, create jobs for the youth, and help reduce poverty.
The leader of the Siemens delegation, Dietmar Siersdorfer, stated that two of the five substations under construction are expected to be completed by December 2026.
He also disclosed that a training centre was under construction to build local capacity in electrical engineering, create jobs, strengthen local content, and enable technology transfer.
“The PPI is not just a project but a platform for long-term development and prosperity,” Siersdorfer said.
He further noted that the initiative would transform Nigeria into a regional power hub, deepening the relationship between Germany and Nigeria.
“Nigerian professionals will be directly engaged in the five project sites in Batch 1, while thousands of jobs will be created in local communities through services, accommodation, and transportation. These efforts reflect the strength of our partnership and the viability of the roadmap we have built together,” he added.
The German Ambassador’s representative, Johannes Lehne, reaffirmed his country’s continued support and collaboration with the Nigerian government on the project.
