By Ayo Ayodele
President Bola Tinubu on Monday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s electricity supply through the ongoing Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) in partnership with Siemens Energy. Receiving a delegation from Siemens at the State House in Abuja, the President said that ensuring steady and reliable power remains central to boosting the nation’s economy and improving the quality of life for citizens.
Led by Dietmar Siersdorfer, Managing Director for Siemens Energy in the Middle East and Africa, the delegation met with the President in the presence of Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and other senior government officials.
President Tinubu emphasized that power supply is critical to the growth of Nigeria’s industrial, healthcare, and educational sectors, describing electricity as essential to unlocking the country’s economic potential.
“There is no industrial growth or economic development without power,” the President said. “Our education, our health care, and our transportation all depend on energy. We are taking it very seriously.”
He assured Siemens that the government will provide the necessary support and funding to accelerate the completion of the phased power infrastructure projects. The President also directed that certain major transformer substations be expanded to improve nationwide power delivery.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, reported that the power sector had achieved key milestones, including reforms made possible through the Electricity Act 2023. He noted that the Presidential Power Initiative has already delivered and commissioned mobile substations and transformers that have added nearly 1,000 megavolt-amperes (MVA) of transmission capacity to the national grid.
Adelabu added that the Federal Executive Council approved the commencement of construction works for the next phase of the project, which covers key substations in Abeokuta, Offa, Ayede-Ibadan, Sokoto, and Onitsha, with two expected to be completed before the end of 2026.
Siemens Energy’s Siersdorfer said the initiative will not only improve power supply but also transfer technical knowledge to Nigerian engineers. He confirmed the construction of a training centre aimed at developing local expertise, creating jobs, and boosting Nigeria’s industrial base.
“The Presidential Power Initiative is not just a project but a platform for long-term development and prosperity,” he said, adding that Nigeria is well-positioned to become a regional power hub.
The German government also reaffirmed its support, with Johannes Lehne, representing the German Ambassador, pledging deeper cooperation.