Nigeria and Germany signed the Presidential Power Initiative agreement on Friday to improve electricity supply in Africa’s most populous nation.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, saying the signing was presided over by President Bola Tinubu and the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
While the Managing Director of the Federal Government of Nigeria Power Company, Kenny Anuwe, signed on Nigeria’s behalf, the Managing Director (Africa), Siemens AG, Nadja Haakansson, signed for Germany.
“Speaking after the signing ceremony in Dubai, Managing Director of the FGN Power Company, Mr. Kenny Anuwe, highlighted Siemens Energy’s effective delivery of crucial equipment worth over 63 million euros to the country since the project commenced,” the statement read.
“This includes 10 units of 132/33KV mobile substations, 3 units of 75/100MVA transformers, and 7 units of 60/66MVA transformers, currently being installed by FGN Power Company at various sites across Nigeria.
“The project will also focus on identified load demand centres with a particular emphasis on economic and industrial hubs nationwide; the execution of new 330 kV and 132/33 kV substations in target load centres with economic priority; and thousands of kilometres of overhead transmission lines to connect new substations with existing ones.”
The presidential spokesman said since assuming office, Tinubu has consistently advocated the accelerated realisation and expansion of the PPI, saying the project has been a major focal point in three rounds of bilateral discussions at several meetings between the President and the German Chancellor in New Delhi, Abuja, and Berlin.
According to Ngelale, the agreement will see the end-to-end modernization and expansion of Nigeria’s electric power transmission grid with the full supply, delivery, and installation of Siemens-manufactured equipment within a timeline of 18 to 24 months.
He emphasised that the agreement will ensure project sustainability and maintenance with full technology transfer and training for Nigerian engineers at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
