By Feyisetan Hamzat | Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has affirmed that his administration is placing electricity reform at the heart of its development agenda, declaring that the country’s power infrastructure is a top priority to boost livelihoods across Nigeria.
The President gave the assurance on Monday during a meeting at the State House, Abuja, with German energy giant Siemens Energy, represented by Dietmar Siersdorfer (Managing Director, Middle East & Africa). Vice President Kashim Shettima, Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu and Special Adviser on Energy Olu Verheijen were present.
Tinubu described reliable power as a non-negotiable foundation for economic growth, industrialisation, quality education and healthcare delivery.
> “Without power, there is no industry, no thriving education system, no efficient healthcare or transport system. Power is among humanity’s greatest inventions in the last millennium,” he stated.
“We value the partnership with the German government and Siemens. The work so far is commendable, but we must push further.”
He directed that several key substations be upgraded from two-phase to three-phase systems to expand national energy access.
What Has Been Achieved So Far
The Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, provided updates on the rollout of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), saying the government’s reforms under the recently-passed Electricity Act (2023) and the long-awaited National Integrated Electricity Policy have attracted over US$2.2 billion in new investment and activated power markets in fifteen states.
Adelabu noted that Siemens Energy has delivered:
10 mobile substations (132/33kV),
3 “75/100 MVA” transformers,
7 “60/66 MVA” transformers —
adding a combined 984 MW of transmission capacity from key centres across Nigeria.
He proudly announced that the Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) contract for Phase One – Batch One has been approved, with work set for substations in Abeokuta, Offa, Ayede-Ibadan, Sokoto and Onitsha. Two of these are expected to go live by end of 2026.
Training, Jobs & Local Content
Siemens’ Dietmar Siersdorfer confirmed that the PPI remains more than an engineering project — it is a platform for skills development, local industry growth and job creation for Nigerian youth.
> “We are building not only infrastructure, but human capacity. The Nigerian professional will lead on-site, and thousands of local jobs will follow from the services we purchase locally,” he remarked.
Dr Wale Edun added that as the PPI delivers stable power, more businesses will thrive, more jobs will be created, and poverty will decline.
Representing Germany’s interests, Johannes Lehne reaffirmed continuing support from Berlin and emphasised the long-term strategic nature of the Nigeria-Germany energy partnership.
Location: State House, Abuja
By: Feyisetan Hamzat
Date: November 10, 2025
