Tinubu: Siemens project progress remarkable — but not where we want it to be

President Bola Tinubu says the progress of the Siemens power project is notable, but falls short of the expected level.

Tinubu spoke on Monday at a meeting at the State House with a delegation from Siemens Energy, led by Dietmar Siersdorfer, its managing director (MD) of Middle East and Africa.

“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,” he said.

Also, Tinubu assured Siemens Energy, the technical contractor handling the presidential power initiative (PPI), of the government’s unwavering commitment to improving Nigeria’s electricity supply and enhancing the livelihoods of its citizens.

He emphasised that the power sector remains pivotal to driving economic growth, particularly within the industrial, educational, and healthcare sectors.

The president said the completion of the phased power project would position Nigeria for greater prominence on the African continent by unlocking the latent potential of its human and material resources across various sectors.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

TINUBU DIRECTS EXPANSION OF MAJOR TRANSFORMER SUBSTATIONS 

The president also directed the expansion of some major transformer substations from two to three phases to boost the country’s electricity 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.

The president assured the delegation that the government will continue to provide the necessary resources to support the power project.

Also speaking, Adelabu noted that the president signed the Electricity Act 2023, and a national integrated electricity policy was developed after 24 years, attracting more than $2 billion of new investments.

The minister said that the policy had led to the activation of fifteen state electricity markets.

“Since the signing of the Accelerated Agreement at COP28 in Dubai in December 2023, an event you personally attended alongside the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the PPI has recorded notable milestones across its implementation phases” he said.

“Under the Pilot phase (Phase Zero), we have achieved significant infrastructure upgrades and capacity enhancements that are already impacting grid stability and reliability across the country.

“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 nationwide, which have added 984mv of transmission capacity to the grid.”

Adelabu said in December 2024, the federal executive council (FEC) approved the commencement of the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for phase one, batch one of the PPI.

The minister added that the project scope includes the upgrade, installation, and commissioning of five key substations located 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,” he said.

“As we consolidate the gains from the Pilot Phase and Phase One-First Batch, we are also preparing to advance to Phase One-Batch two, which has a scope for the construction of new substations and the upgrade of existing ones across key load centres nationwide.

“Collectively, Phase One -Batch Two of the PPI comprises a total of six (6) Brownfield and ten (10) Greenfield substations with a cumulative impact of 4,104MW.”

On his part, Siersdorfer said two of the five substations currently under construction are expected to be completed by December 2026.

‘TRAINING CENTER IS BEING BUILT TO DEVELOP LOCAL TALENTS’

Siersdorfer said that a training centre is already being built to develop local talent in electrical engineering, create additional jobs, promote local content, and facilitate technology transfer.

“The PPI is not just a project but a platform for long-term development and prosperity,’’ he said.

The MD said the PPI will transform Nigeria into a regional power hub, reflecting the depth of relations between Germany and Nigeria.

Siersdorfer added that Nigerian professionals will be engaged directly in the five project sites “in Batch 1 for the site works, while thousands of jobs will be enabled in the local communities through purchased services, accommodation, and transportation, among others”.

According to NAN, Tinubu pledged during the meeting to mobilise resources for the establishment of the 10 mobile power stations nationwide.