Abuja, Nigeria — At the State House this week, President Bola Tinubu underscored a simple truth: without electricity, economic growth is impossible. “There is no industrial growth or economic development without power. Our education, our health care, and our transportation all depend on energy,” he declared, framing the power sector as the backbone of Nigeria’s future.
The Presidential Power Initiative: A National Bet
The meeting, attended by Vice‑President Kashim Shettima, Finance Minister Wale Edun, Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu, and Siemens executives, focused on accelerating the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI). The programme aims to deliver an additional 4,000 megawatts (MW) of capacity, positioning Nigeria as a leader in African electricity generation.
Tinubu directed that transformer substations be expanded from two to three phases, a technical adjustment meant to strengthen supply and improve social welfare. “We want everyone to see the glory of our economic recovery and the banishment of poverty,” he told the Siemens delegation.
Investment and Reform Momentum
Minister Adelabu highlighted reforms already reshaping the sector: the Electricity Act 2023 and the launch of a National Integrated Electricity Policy, which together have attracted more than $2 billion in new investment.
Under the PPI’s pilot phase, Siemens has delivered ten mobile substations, three 75/100 MVA transformers, and seven 60/66 MVA transformers — adding nearly 1,000 MW of transmission capacity to the grid. Contracts for five major substations in Abeokuta, Offa, Ibadan, Sokoto, and Onitsha are underway, with two expected to be completed by 2026.
Phase One–Batch Two will expand even further, covering 16 substations (both Brownfield and Greenfield) with a combined impact of over 4,100 MW.
Beyond Infrastructure: Skills and Jobs
Siemens’ regional MD, Dietmar Siersdorfer, described the initiative as “not just a project but a platform for long‑term development and prosperity.” He confirmed plans for a training centre to build Nigerian engineering talent, alongside thousands of jobs in local communities through services, accommodation, and logistics at project sites.
Finance Minister Edun added that the PPI will improve Nigeria’s ease of doing business ranking, generate youth employment, and contribute to poverty reduction.
A Continental Signal
Nigeria’s partnership with Siemens reflects a broader trend across Africa: governments are pursuing large‑scale infrastructure deals that blend foreign expertise with local capacity building. If successful, Nigeria could emerge as a power hub for West Africa, exporting electricity to neighbours struggling with chronic shortages.
For a continent grappling with an infrastructure deficit, Nigeria’s blueprint may serve as a model. The challenge lies in execution, but the ambition is clear: power is the engine of Africa’s next growth spurt.
