President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday in Abuja reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), implemented in partnership with Siemens Energy, to improve Nigeria’s electricity supply and enhance citizens’ livelihoods.
During a meeting at the State House, President Tinubu received a delegation from Siemens Energy led by Dietmar Siersdorfer, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa.
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Also present 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 emphasized that reliable electricity remains the cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic transformation, particularly in the industrial, educational, and healthcare 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,” President Tinubu said.
“We appreciate the partnership with Siemens and the German government. The progress is notable, but it is not yet where we want it to be. We remain fully committed to this initiative,” he added.
Tinubu directed that several major transformer substations be expanded from two to three phases to boost national grid capacity.
“We want everyone to see the glory of our economic recovery and the banishment of poverty,”.
The President assured the delegation that the government will continue to provide the necessary resources to ensure the completion of the project.
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Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu reported that significant progress had been made in the power sector, including the decentralisation and liberalisation of electricity generation and distribution following the Electricity Act 2023.
He noted that the new National Integrated Electricity Policy—developed after 24 years—has attracted over $2.2 billion in new investments and activated 15 state electricity markets.
Adelabu explained that since President Tinubu signed the Accelerated Agreement at COP28 in Dubai (December 2023), the PPI has achieved major milestones.
“Under the Pilot Phase (Phase Zero), 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, adding 984MW of transmission capacity to the grid,”.
He revealed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for Phase One, Batch One in December 2024, covering substations in Abeokuta, Offa, Ayede-Ibadan, Sokoto, and Onitsha.
Two of the five substations, he said, are expected to be completed by December 2026, with Phase One, Batch Two set to add 4,104MW through the construction of six brownfield and ten greenfield substations nationwide.
Minister Wale Edun emphasized that completing the PPI will enhance Nigeria’s ease of doing business, create thousands of jobs, and contribute significantly to poverty reduction.
In his remarks, Dietmar Siersdorfer of Siemens Energy confirmed that two of the substations are on track for completion by 2026. He announced the establishment of a training centre to develop local technical expertise, promote technology transfer, and strengthen local content participation.
“The PPI is not just a project but a platform for long-term development and prosperity. Nigerian professionals will play key roles in the implementation, and local communities will benefit through services, accommodation, and logistics,” Siersdorfer said.
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A representative of the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Johannes Lehne, reiterated Germany’s continued support for Nigeria’s power transformation and economic development.