President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Monday received a high-powered delegation from Siemens Energy, led by Mr. Dietmar Siersdorfer, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to the full implementation of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) aimed at transforming the nation’s electricity infrastructure.
Also present at the meeting were the German Deputy Head of Mission to Nigeria, Johannes Lehne, top government officials, and representatives of Nigeria’s energy agencies.
The visit comes as a follow-up to the December 1, 2023 Nigeria–Germany agreement signed on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai, which seeks to accelerate the long-delayed Siemens Power Project, officially known as the Nigeria Electrification Roadmap.
A Renewed Drive To Power Nigeria’s Growth
President Tinubu reiterated that his administration considers electricity generation and distribution a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic renewal, saying “there is no industrial growth or economic development without power.”
The meeting with Siemens Energy, one of the world’s leading energy technology firms, focused on modernising and expanding Nigeria’s national grid, upgrading substations, and ensuring sustainable, reliable power supply to homes, industries, and institutions.
The Presidential Power Initiative, first conceived in 2019 under a partnership with Siemens AG, had stagnated for years before the Tinubu administration revived it in 2023. Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, earlier disclosed that “we entered into the Siemens contract in 2019, but nothing moved until President Tinubu came on board.”
Under the renewed arrangement, Nigeria has approved ₦262.75 billion (approximately €161.33 million) for the first phase of the project, which covers the construction and upgrade of five substations in Onitsha, Offa, Abeokuta, Ayede-Ibadan, and Sokoto.
Inside The Agreement: Nigeria, Germany, and Siemens Energy
The landmark December 2023 agreement was signed between FGN Power Company, represented by its Managing Director Mr. Kenny Anuwe, and Siemens Energy, represented by Ms. Nadja Haakansson, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Africa.
The accord, endorsed by both governments, aims to deliver end-to-end modernisation of Nigeria’s electricity grid — from supply and delivery to installation of Siemens-manufactured equipment — within 18 to 24 months for the initial stages.
The project also includes:
- Upgrading and building new substations (330 kV and 132/33 kV).
- Extending transmission lines over 544 km to connect economic hubs across Nigeria.
- Training of Nigerian engineers at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
- Technology transfer and local capacity development to ensure sustainability.
Already, 10 units of 132/33 kV mobile substations, 3 units of 75/100 MVA transformers, and 7 units of 60/66 MVA transformers have been delivered, adding nearly 984 MW of transmission capacity to the national grid.
Phase Structure And Timelines
The Siemens project is divided into multiple stages:
- Phase Zero (Pilot) — delivery and installation of mobile substations and transformers.
- Phase I (Batch 1) — upgrade and new construction of substations at five key sites, with two scheduled for completion by end 2026.
- Phase I (Batch 2) — 16 additional substations (6 brownfield + 10 greenfield), expected to add 4,104 MW to national capacity.
- Phase II (Transmission Expansion) — construction of seven upgraded and ten new high-voltage power lines, capable of transmitting 7,140 MW.
Strategic And Economic Implications
For Nigeria, the initiative represents a crucial step toward stabilising power supply and supporting industrialisation, job creation, and economic diversification. It aligns with President Tinubu’s broader Renewed Hope Agenda, positioning the energy sector as the engine of national recovery.
For Germany and Siemens Energy, the project strengthens bilateral economic ties and reinforces Siemens’ growing presence in Africa, with Nigeria viewed as a key regional hub.
However, analysts note that past power-sector projects in Nigeria have been plagued by funding delays, governance gaps, and infrastructure bottlenecks. Experts caution that meeting counterpart funding obligations and enforcing accountability will determine whether this ambitious plan finally delivers results where others have failed.
The Road Ahead
As implementation accelerates, focus will turn to:
- Ensuring timely completion of substations by 2026.
- Expanding renewable and hybrid energy partnerships.
- Training and empowering Nigerian engineers for long-term sustainability.
- Guaranteeing transparency in funding and contract execution.
The Siemens Power Project, if fully realised, could raise Nigeria’s operational capacity from roughly 4,000 MW to 25,000 MW in the coming years — a transformational leap for Africa’s most populous nation.
For millions of Nigerians weary of darkness, this partnership rekindles hope that the Tinubu administration’s promise of “power for prosperity” may finally begin to light up the nation.
Source:
Abuja Network News (www.abujanetworknews.com.ng)
Compiled from State House Nigeria, TVC News, Premium Times, Channels TV, BusinessDay, and Federal Ministry of Information.