By PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to delivering stable and sustainable electricity to Nigerians, declaring that the Federal Government is taking power “very seriously” to enhance livelihoods and drive economic transformation.
The President gave the assurance on Monday during a meeting at the State House, Abuja, with a delegation from Siemens Energy, led by Mr Dietmar Siersdorfer, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa.
The delegation visited to review progress on the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), a flagship partnership between Nigeria and Germany aimed at modernising and expanding Nigeria’s power infrastructure.
President Tinubu described electricity as the foundation of industrial and economic development, stating that its improvement remains a top priority for his administration.
“There is no industrial growth or economic development without power,” he said. “I believe that power is the most significant discovery of humanity in the last 1,000 years. We appreciate the partnership and the progress made so far, but we must move faster.
“Our education, healthcare, and transportation sectors all depend on energy. Without power, achieving our national objectives will remain impossible. We are taking it very seriously,” he emphasised.
The President commended Siemens Energy and the German government for their continued support, assuring that the Federal Government would provide all necessary resources to ensure the successful delivery of the PPI. He also directed the expansion of major transformer substations from two to three phases to further boost electricity supply across the country.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, and Special Adviser on Energy Olu Verheijen were in attendance at the meeting.
Speaking at the briefing, the Minister of Power, Mr Adelabu, outlined key milestones achieved under the initiative, noting that reforms under the Tinubu administration had decentralised and liberalised the power sector.
He highlighted that President Tinubu’s signing of the Electricity Act 2023 and the introduction of a National Integrated Electricity Policy had attracted over $2.2 billion in new investments and activated 15 state electricity markets.
Adelabu explained that under the pilot phase of the PPI, Siemens Energy had delivered and commissioned 10 units of 132/33kV mobile substations, three 75/100MVA transformers, and seven 60/66MVA transformers nationwide—adding 984 megavolt-amperes (MVA) of transmission capacity to the national grid.
He added that the Federal Executive Council had, in December 2024, approved the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for Phase One, Batch One of the PPI, covering the upgrade and installation of substations in Abeokuta, Offa, Ayede-Ibadan, Sokoto, and Onitsha.
“Plans for civil works mobilisation across all five locations have been finalised, manufacturing of required equipment is ongoing, and two substations are targeted for completion by the end of 2026,” the minister disclosed.
Adelabu further noted that preparations were underway for Phase One, Batch Two of the initiative, which includes the construction and upgrade of 16 substations nationwide, expected to contribute an additional 4,104MW to the national grid.
The Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, said the completion of the PPI would enhance Nigeria’s ease of doing business, create jobs for young people, and accelerate poverty reduction.
In his remarks, Siemens Energy’s Managing Director, Mr Siersdorfer, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the success of the project, noting that two of the five substations under construction were expected to be completed by December 2026.
He also revealed that a training centre was being built to equip Nigerian engineers with technical skills, strengthen local content participation, and ensure technology transfer.
“The PPI is not just a project but a platform for long-term development and prosperity,” he said, adding that the initiative would transform Nigeria into a regional power hub.
Representing the German Ambassador, Mr Johannes Lehne pledged the continued support of the German government for Nigeria’s energy development goals.
The Presidential Power Initiative, launched in 2019, aims to increase Nigeria’s electricity capacity from around 4,500MW to 25,000MW in phases, positioning the country for accelerated industrial and economic growth.
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