Nigeria and Germany signed a Presidential Power Initiative agreement on Friday to increase electricity delivery in Africa’s most populous country.
According to Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, the signing was presided over by President Bola Tinubu and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
While Kenny Anuwe, Managing Director of the Federal Government of Nigeria Power Company, signed on behalf of Nigeria, Nadja Haakansson, Managing Director (Africa), Siemens AG, signed on behalf of 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; execution of new 330kV and 132/33KV substations in target load centres with economic priority, in addition to thousands of kilometres of overhead transmission lines to connect new substations with existing ones.”
According to the presidential spokesman, Tinubu has consistently advocated for the accelerated realization and expansion of the PPI since taking office, and that 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 arrangement would see to the end-to-end upgrading and extension of Nigeria’s electric power transmission system over a period of 18 to 24 months, with full supply, delivery, and installation of Siemens-manufactured equipment.
He emphasized that the deal will assure project sustainability and maintenance by transferring full technology and training to Nigerian experts at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
