Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment To Siemens Power Projec
President Bola Tinubu on Monday in Abuja reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), pledging full government support to Siemens Energy to ensure the delivery of reliable electricity across Nigeria.
Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from Siemens Energy, led by Dietmar Siersdorfer, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, at the State House, the President emphasized that the power sector remains central to Nigeria’s economic transformation, particularly in driving industrial, educational, and healthcare growth.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen, also attended the meeting.
President Tinubu described electricity as the foundation for national prosperity, noting that the completion of the phased power project would give Nigeria a place of pride on the continent.
> “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 progress of the project to date is notable, and we can feel it, but it is not where we want it to be. We appreciate the support and commitment of the German government and Siemens. The investment you are making aligns with the future of this country,” the President stated.
He directed the expansion of major transformer substations from two to three phases to boost the nation’s electricity supply, adding that energy remains the bedrock of Nigeria’s recovery and long-term growth.
> “Our education, our healthcare, and our transportation all depend on energy. Without power, progress is impossible. We are taking it very seriously,” he said.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, highlighted the progress recorded under the PPI, noting that the government had implemented several key reforms, including the signing of the Electricity Act 2023 and the development of a National Integrated Electricity Policy, which has attracted over $2.2 billion in fresh investments and activated 15 state electricity markets.
Adelabu explained that since the signing of the Accelerated Agreement at COP28 in Dubai, the PPI had achieved significant milestones, particularly 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 across key load centres nationwide—adding 984MW of transmission capacity to the grid,” he said.
He added that the Federal Executive Council, in December 2024, approved the commencement of the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for Phase One, Batch One of the PPI. The phase covers the upgrade and installation of five substations in Abeokuta, Offa, Ayede-Ibadan, Sokoto, and Onitsha.
According to Adelabu, civil works at all five sites have been finalized for mobilisation, with equipment manufacturing ongoing. Two substations are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
The minister also disclosed that Phase One, Batch Two of the PPI would involve six brownfield and ten greenfield substations nationwide, with a combined capacity of 4,104MW.
Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, said the completion of the project would enhance Nigeria’s ease of doing business, create jobs, and reduce poverty.
Dietmar Siersdorfer of Siemens Energy confirmed that two substations under construction would be completed by December 2026, while a training centre was being built to support local workforce development in electrical engineering and technology transfer.
> “The PPI is not just a project but a platform for long-term development and prosperity. Nigerian professionals will be engaged across the five sites, and thousands of jobs will be created in local communities,” Siersdorfer said.
He affirmed that the PPI would transform Nigeria into a regional power hub and deepen bilateral relations between Nigeria and Germany.
Representing the German government, Ambassador Johannes Lehne reiterated Germany’s continued support for Nigeria’s power sector reforms and its partnership in driving sustainable industrial development.
— Bayo Onanuga,
Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy)
