- President Tinubu fast-tracks the Siemens Power Project to boost Nigeria’s electricity generation from 4,000 MW to 25,000 MW in six years.
- Siemens will modernise Nigeria’s power grid, deliver new equipment, and train engineers, with €161.3 million approved for the project’s first phase.
- Tinubu also launched the Presidential Metering Initiative to expand the rollout of smart meters, aiming to solve Nigeria’s electricity crisis through improved generation and distribution.
President Bola Tinubu is speeding up the Federal Government-Siemens Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) to fix Nigeria’s long-standing electricity challenges. The project, launched in 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, aims to increase Nigeria’s electricity generation from 4,000 to 25,000 megawatts within six years.
Buhari collaborated with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel to tackle Nigeria’s power gridlock. However, delays emerged after Buhari’s chief of staff, Abba Kyari, who oversaw the project, passed away in 2020. Kyari had played a crucial role in advancing the project by removing bureaucratic obstacles.
Despite these setbacks, Tinubu remains determined to complete the project. At COP28 in Dubai in December 2024, Tinubu and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz witnessed the signing of a new agreement between Nigeria and Siemens Energy. This deal aims to accelerate the implementation of PPIs.
Siemens Energy Nigeria’s Managing Director, Seun Suleiman, confidently reassured the public of their delivery readiness. “This project will transform Nigeria’s energy landscape. Siemens can deliver,” he stated.
Under the PPI, Siemens will modernise and expand Nigeria’s power transmission grid. The company will install new equipment and train Nigerian engineers. Siemens already delivered and installed 10 mobile substations and power transformers in various parts of the country, but progress on the project has been slow.
In December 2024, Tinubu led the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to approve €161.3 million for the project’s first phase. The government had previously procured equipment to upgrade key substations in Abeokuta, Ayede, Offa, Onitsha, and Sokoto.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, shared his optimism, saying, “We are moving forward as promised by the president. With the first phase approved, we will fast-track delivery.”
The FGN Power Company, the agency overseeing the project, will collaborate with Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies (Discos) to ensure efficient power delivery. The plan includes upgrading distribution networks to serve industrial and residential consumers better.
In a separate effort, Tinubu introduced the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) to increase the rollout of smart meters. The PPI and PMI aim to solve Nigeria’s electricity crisis through improved power generation, distribution, and metering.
Tinubu’s power sector reforms also involve restructuring electricity tariffs, improving gas supply for power generation, and new investments in infrastructure. The 2023 Electricity Act gives states greater control over electricity distribution and aims to decentralise the sector.
Tinubu’s focused leadership is expected to significantly boost industrial growth, improve quality of life, and provide stable electricity to millions of Nigerians. If implemented effectively, the PPI could finally end Nigeria’s decades-long electricity struggles.