Tinubu pushes Siemens deal for fresh 4,000MW power

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday in Abuja, assured the technical contractor handling the Presidential Power Initiative, Siemens Energy, of the government’s full commitment to improving the country’s electricity supply and enhancing the livelihoods of its citizens.

At a meeting at the State House with a delegation from Siemens Energy, led by Managing Director for Middle East and Africa, Dietmar Siersdorfer, Tinubu noted that the power sector remains central to stimulating the economy, particularly in the industrial, educational, and healthcare sectors.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, which also revealed the government’s push for the generation of fresh 4,000 megawatts of power.

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen, attended the meeting.

The President stated that the completion of the phased power project would place Nigeria among the continent’s leaders in electricity generation by harnessing latent human and material resources.

“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,” he added.

Tinubu also directed the expansion of some major transformer substations from two to three phases to boost the country’s power supply.

“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,” he said, assuring the delegation that the government would continue to provide the resources needed for the project.

The Power Minister, Adelabu, stated that the sector had achieved many critical milestones, including decentralisation and liberalisation. He highlighted the signing of the Electricity Act 2023 and the development of a National Integrated Electricity Policy, which had attracted over $2bn in fresh investments.

“Since the signing of the Accelerated Agreement at COP28 in Dubai in December 2023, an event you personally attended alongside 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 already impacting grid stability and reliability nationwide.

“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, adding 984MW of transmission capacity to the grid,” he stated.

Adelabu informed the President that in December 2024, the Federal Executive Council approved the commencement of the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contract for Phase One, Batch One, covering five key substations 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 gains from the Pilot Phase and Phase One-First Batch, we are also preparing Phase One-Batch Two, which includes six Brownfield and ten Greenfield substations with a cumulative impact of 4,104MW,” Adelabu added.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, stated that the PPI’s completion would enhance Nigeria’s ease of doing business, create youth employment, and reduce poverty.

Siersdorfer, leader of the Siemens delegation, said two of the five Batch One substations are expected to be completed by December 2026. He added that a training centre is under construction to develop local electrical engineering talent, create jobs, and transfer technology.

“The PPI is not just a project but a platform for long-term development and prosperity,” he said. He further noted that Nigerian professionals would be engaged directly at the five project sites, while thousands of jobs would be enabled in local communities through services, accommodation, and transportation.

Johannes Lehne, representing the German Ambassador, assured President Tinubu of further collaboration and support from the German government.