We place high premium on stable power, Tinubu tells Siemens

President Bola Tinubu has restated his administration’s commitment to improving the country’s electricity supply and enhancing livelihoods. He noted that the power sector remains central to stimulating the economy, particularly in the industrial, educational  and healthcare sectors.

President Tinubu made this declaration on Monday at the State House at a meeting with the German company, Siemens Energy, the technical contractor handling the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).

The Siemens Energy delegation was led by Dietmar Siersdorfer, Managing Director of Middle East and Africa.

Also at the meeting were  Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen.

President Tinubu expressed hope that the completion of the phased power project will give Nigeria a place of pride on the continent by harnessing the latent potential in human and material resources across various sectors.

He said: “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 the initiative. 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 and your commitment align with the future of this country.

“Our education, our health care and our transportation all depend on energy and without power, it is an impossible objective. We are taking it very seriously.”

The President also directed the expansion of some major transformer substations from two to three phases to boost the country’s power supply while assuring the delegation that the government will continue to provide the needed resources for the power project.

“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 banishment of poverty.”

The  Minister of Power listed decentralisation and liberalisation  as critical milestones, achieved so far in the power sector.

He  recalled the  signing of  the Electricity Act 2023, and a National Integrated Electricity Policy under the present administration which he noted has attracted  more than $ 22billion of fresh investments.

The minister noted that the policy had resulted in the activation of fifteen state electricity markets.

He said:”Since the signing of the Accelerated Agreement at COP28 in Dubai in December 2023, an event you personally attended alongside the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the PPI has recorded notable milestones across its implementation phases.

“Under the Pilot phase (Phase Zero), we have achieved significant infrastructure upgrades and capacity enhancements that are already impacting grid stability and reliability across the country.

“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, which have added 984mv of transmission capacity to the grid.”

Adelabu  further recalled 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.

The minister stated that the scope encompasses the upgrade, installation, and commissioning of five key substations situated in Abeokuta, Offa, Ayede-Ibadan, Sokoto, and Onitsha.

“I am pleased to report that 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 has a scope for the construction of new substations and the upgrade of existing ones across key load centres nationwide. Collectively, Phase One -Batch Two of the PPI comprises a total of six (6) Brownfield and ten (10) Greenfield substations with a cumulative impact of 4,104MW.”

In his presentation, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy,  Wale Edun, stated that the completion of the PPI will enhance Nigeria’s ease of doing business, create more jobs for the youth, and reduce poverty.

The leader of the Siemens delegation, Siersdorfer, assured President Tinubu that two out of the five substations under construction are expected to be completed by December 2026.

He revealed that a training centre was already under construction to ensure the training of local talents in electrical engineering, create more jobs, capture local content, and transfer technology.

“The PPI is not just a project but a platform for long-term development and prosperity.”

He informed the President that the PPI will transform Nigeria into a regional power hub, reflecting the depth of relations between Germany and Nigeria.

He said:”Nigerian professionals will be engaged directly in the five project sites in Batch 1 for the site works, while thousands of jobs will be enabled in the local communities through purchased services, accommodation, and transportation, among others. These will further reflect the strength of our partnership and the viability of the roadmap we have built together.”

The German Ambassador’s representative, Johannes Lehne, assured President Tinubu of further support and collaboration with the German government.