The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu has further clarified his statement on the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), emphasizing that the President Tinubu administration intervention has helped to further galvanize the project.
The Minister made the explanations and clarification in a statement issued by Bolaji Tunji, his Special Adviser, Strategic Communications and Media Relations.
The statement obtained by Vital News on Saturday highlighted the major milestones of the Present Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration on the PPI also known as Siemens deal.
According to Adelabu, the inauguration of the Tinubu administration in 2023 brought added fillip to the Siemens Power Project as an accelerated contract was signed to ensure visible progress in the project.
“There is no way the Minister’s statement that no significant progress on the project was made until the present administration was inaugurated, can be faulted when the major milestones between 2023 till date are considered.
“No doubt, there have been significant improvement in the PPI since the inauguration of the present administration on May 29, 2023.
“The Presidential Power Initiative was conceived in August 2018, born from the strong bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Germany, with the goal of transforming Nigeria’s power sector by increasing generation, transmission, and distribution capacity.
“This administration, under the leadership of President Tinubu, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the PPI, recognizing its critical importance to opening up the economy and galvanising national development.
“To ensure the expeditious delivery of improved power supply to industrial clusters, households, and businesses, President Tinubu mandated the signing of an Acceleration Agreement.
“This commitment has translated into tangible results.
“Under the present administration , leadership, strengthened programme governance has expedited contract and financing approvals, leading to faster project implementation.”
While acknowledging efforts of past administrations on the PPI, the Minister said some of the key milestones under the present administration apart from the execution of an Acceleration Agreement with Siemens Energy to fast-track the implementation of the PPI, include the approval of a new technical direction for the PPI, ensuring Siemens Energy focuses solely on upgrading and modernizing the transmission subsector through a Turnkey approach while the President also approved that the distribution scope be delivered by other reputable Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Companies with the requisite technical, financial, and financing capacity.
“The strategic decisions aim to increase grid capacity by an additional 4,000MW by the end of 2026, with an aspirational target of an additional 2,000MW, as directed by the Economic Management Team in 2024.
“Noteworthy is the fact that the implementation of the PPI commenced with the installation and commissioning of ten (10) Power Transformers and ten (10) Mobile Substations across the country under the Pilot Phase of the PPI, which was manufactured and delivered in October 2023.
“In 2024, there was a focus on the implementation of the Pilot Project and the project initiation activities of the main phase of the PPI.
“Also under the administration, FGN Power Company implemented several transmission projects across the country, which have collectively increased the transmission wheeling capacity by over 700MW for industrial clusters, businesses, universities, and homes.
“The statement evince surprise that of all the key achievements of the administration in the power sector as listed by the Minister of Power, all someone could pick out of the achievements of the administration in the power sector under the leadership of the Minister is the issue of the Siemens deal.
“What has happened to other major milestones that the Minister highlighted?
“How many mega watts of electricity did the administration meet on ground, and what is the situation today?
“The focus should be on the impact being made in the power sector rather than singling out an aspect of all that is being done,” the statement said.
The statement further highlighted some major take away from the Ministerial briefing which include: Market and regulatory reforms such as the implementation of cost-reflective tariffs for Band A customers which raised market revenue by ₦700 billion in 2024; a 70 per cent increment from the previous year, improving financial viability and further push for the sector to achieve sustainability and full commercialization.
“The establishment of National Independent System Operator (NISO), marking the functional unbundling of the Transmission Company of Nigeria will strengthen governance and enhance performance of the Nigeria power grid and increase investor confidence in the sector.
“Also, regulatory oversight was successfully transferred to 11 states in total– Enugu, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Oyo, Edo, Kogi, Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Plateau States with Plateau and Niger States happening within the last 100 days.
“In area of generation, peak available generation rose to an all-time peak of 6,003 MW on March 4, 2025.
“A new generation evacuation peak of 5,801.44MW and maximum daily energy record of 128,370.75 MWh was achieved on the same day.
“NDPHC restored 345 MW of idle capacity and improved 14 transmission lines.
“Restoration of 345MW power turbine back on the grid – 120 MW in Omotosho NIPP, 112.5 MW in Benin NIPP, and 112.5MW in Calabar NIPP. Off-grid and interconnected solar mini-grid projects were commissioned across several states in the country.
“Specifically, 550KWp at Bakin Siyawa and Kwande communities in Plateau, 440kWp Mini-Grid in Cross River State, 990kW Mini-grid to Power 3,900 Households in Niger State, and 510KwP solar hybrid mini-grid in communities in Osun State.
“The process to ensure full evacuation of Zungeru and Kashimbila hydropower plants is also at an advanced stage while the Makurdi hydropower and Kaduna thermal plants are under development.
“Kaduna plant with a capacity of 215MW should be ready for evacuation by the end of the year.
“Ongoing partnerships with Sun Africa and Skipper Electric to expand renewable capacity with the introduction of utility-scale renewable energy specifically Solar Energy.
“This will increase the available capacity and energy mix while boosting the country’s energy security, all these happened within the period the Tinubu administration was inaugurated”.
On transmission, Adelabu said the Presidential Power Initiative’s pilot phase added 700MW through infrastructure upgrades in 13 locations.
“Over 70 transformers were added between 2024 and 2025 by the transmission company of Nigeria through Internally generated revenue, and through the World Bank and Africa Development Bank Nigeria Electricity Transmission Project Program adding over 12,000MVA transformation capacity to the Nigerian grid.
“A ₦25 billion budget has been allocated as part of effort to complete ongoing transmission projects in the 2025 appropriation act.
“In addition work is ongoing to regionalize the grid via the Eastern and Western Super grid frameworks to strengthen the grid’s resilience against grid disturbances.
“In order to bridge the meter gap, the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) launched with an ambition to add 2 million meters annually.
“A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) has been set up to drive the PMI implementation.
“Currently, ₦700 billion funding has been raised from the FAAC and as part of efforts to fulfil the target for the year, procurement has commenced for the deployment of 1.1 million meters.
“In addition to the PMI, the World Bank’s DISREP project targets 3.2 million additional meters.
“The first batch of 75,000 meters under the DISREP has been delivered and a second batch of 200,000 meters is expected in May.
“Some of the distribution companies are undergoing restructuring and enhanced performance monitoring has been put in place by the Regulator to ensure improved service delivery.
“Under the stewardship of the Minister, the Energizing Education Programme and DARES initiative are expanding access to clean power for millions.
“The Energizing Education Programme (EEP) is an initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), to provide sustainable and clean power supply to 37 Federal Universities and 7 University Teaching Hospitals across Nigeria with seven completed and ready for commissioning.
“As part of effort to improve human capacity and local content in the sector, a landmark agreement was signed between the Rural Electrification Agency and Oando Clean Energy for a 1.2GW solar power plant with a recycling line.
“This will enhance sustainability in solar panel deployment”
However, the Minister, is the first to acknowledge challenges in the sector.
Such challenges include the ₦4 trillion in outstanding subsidies and unsustainable tariff regimes, rampant vandalism, electricity theft, and chronic bill non-payment, poor investment by some operators especially in the distribution infrastructure and resistance to the sector commercialization by the electricity consumers which is impacting on the sector’s liquidity.
Despite all these challenges, the Ministry has made strong strides in sector reform, access, and infrastructure upgrade while the foundation for long-term transformation has been laid, with a commitment to inclusive, sustainable, and result-oriented power sector development.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
