Just like the nursery children rhyme ”Humpty Dumpty” and his great fall, it appears the siemens power project is experiencing one.
Two years since the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) was initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari, the German Government and a German company, Siemens, to add 25,000MW of power to the National grid, nothing has been done (learn more).
The President signed the Siemens deal in July 2019 to secure reliable and affordable electricity for Nigerians. It was divided into three phases, with the first phase adding 7,000MW to the electricity grid. However, the sector appears to have had a Humpty dumpty fall as no clear sign of the project implementation has been seen so far.
Plagued by inadequate electricity supply, faulty transmission networks, and poor conditions of electricity generation plants, the Nigerian electricity sector has continued to fail customers. The poor electricity situation has affected lifestyle, businesses and the country’s economy.
In a recent interview, renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie, inquired the German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the Siemens contract. Her response was not expected as she said, ”I will get back to you. You will get your answer.”
While that was one response, another was given by the President of the Nigerian Consumer Protection Network (NCPN), Barrister Kunle Kola Olubiyo, on the feasibility of the project timeline. He explained that the project was political, and everything was in the paperwork stage.
Well, the Nigerian Power Sector, amidst all these deliberations, has been sitting on the wall while awaiting improvement through the signed deal. These unexpected and not quite hopeful responses appear there has been a power flop. Hence Humpty Dumpty.