"Tinubu Urges Swift Action on Siemens' Nationwide Electricity Initiative in Nigeria"

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration's dedication to the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), assuring Siemens Energy of complete government support to enhance electricity supply throughout the nation.

During a meeting with a delegation from Siemens Energy at the State House on Monday, Tinubu stated that improving power infrastructure is crucial for Nigeria’s economic recovery and development in vital sectors such as industry, education, and healthcare.

“We are taking power very seriously,” the President remarked, according to a statement from his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.

He acknowledged, however, that the implementation of the project under the Presidential Power Initiative, which commenced in 2021, needs to accelerate.

“There is no industrial growth or economic development without power. We appreciate the support and commitment from the German government and Siemens. The progress made thus far is commendable, but we must expedite our efforts.”

Tinubu also instructed that several major transformer substations under the project be expanded from two to three phases to further enhance the national grid.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, informed the President about the milestones achieved under the initiative, highlighting that reforms and the signing of the Electricity Act 2023 have already attracted over $22 billion in new investments and activated state-level electricity markets.

He added that during the pilot phase, Siemens delivered mobile substations and transformers that have contributed an additional 984 MW of transmission capacity nationwide. Civil works for Phase One upgrades in Abeokuta, Offa, Ibadan (Ayede), Sokoto, and Onitsha are set to begin, with two substations anticipated to be completed by the end of 2026.

Also addressing the meeting, Siemens Energy’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, Dietmar Siersdorfer, stated that the PPI will create jobs, encourage technology transfer, and establish Nigeria as a regional power hub.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, emphasized that stable power will enhance the ease of doing business and support job growth.

Germany’s representative at the meeting, Johannes Lehne, committed to ongoing cooperation with Nigeria.