By Kunle Sanni –
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s electricity supply through the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), assuring Siemens Energy of full government support for the timely completion of the project.
Speaking at a meeting with a delegation from Siemens Energy led by Dietmar Siersdorfer, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, at the State House in Abuja on Monday, Tinubu said reliable power remains central to the country’s industrial, educational, and healthcare development.
“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,” the President said. “We appreciate the partnership and progress made so far, but it is not where we want it to be. Our education, healthcare, and transportation all depend on energy — and we are taking it very seriously.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, and Special Adviser on Energy Olu Verheijen were also in attendance.
Tinubu directed an expansion of major transformer substations from two to three phases to boost electricity transmission nationwide, expressing optimism that the PPI would place Nigeria at the forefront of Africa’s power development.
“We want everyone to see the glory of our economic recovery and the banishment of poverty,” he said.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu disclosed that the sector had reached several key milestones, including decentralisation and liberalisation, following the signing of the Electricity Act 2023 by President Tinubu. He added that the National Integrated Electricity Policy, developed after 24 years, had already attracted over $2.2 billion in new investments and activated 15 state electricity markets.
Adelabu also reported significant progress under the PPI, a partnership between the federal government and Siemens Energy launched to modernise Nigeria’s electricity grid.
