Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has revealed that the $2.3 billion Siemens power deal signed under former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 was inactive for four years and only began to show results after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in 2023.
Adelabu made this disclosure during a meeting with a delegation from the World Bank at his office in Abuja. He stated that it was not until the current administration took over that any significant progress was made in the ambitious project aimed at revamping Nigeria’s electricity supply system.
“We entered into the Siemens contract in 2019. We never lifted a finger until 2023, when this government came on board,” Adelabu said. “Now, look at the mileage we have achieved. Even in this Siemens project, the pilot phase is almost completed — and that is in less than two years, when in four years we didn’t do anything.”
The Siemens power agreement, officially called the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), was launched during the Buhari administration in collaboration with the German government and Siemens AG. The plan was structured in phases and aimed at improving Nigeria’s electricity generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure.
The $2.3 billion deal was expected to add significant capacity to Nigeria’s power grid and bring much-needed relief to homes and industries suffering from constant blackouts. However, despite the early fanfare, progress remained slow for years, with no major implementation until the Tinubu-led administration revived the project.
Adelabu blamed the past governments for the rot in the power sector, saying they failed to take action and merely paid lip service to power reforms. He stressed that the current crisis in the sector is a result of years of neglect and failure to maintain critical infrastructure.
“We actually have a past that we are not proud of. Over the years, we have only been paying lip service to transforming the power sector,” the minister said. “We have not walked the talk. Previous administrations kept on doing the same thing all the time and expected different results.”
He highlighted the lack of maintenance across transmission and distribution infrastructure, describing it as a major obstacle to stable electricity delivery.
“Thousands of kilometres of power lines, thousands of power transformers, hundreds of thousands of distribution transformers — all left without proper maintenance. Yet we expect them to keep sustaining our energy supply. It is not possible,” he said.
The minister also pointed to widespread vandalism of power infrastructure and the low number of metered customers as factors contributing to the sector’s challenges.
“How do we allow our people to vandalise infrastructure and expect stable electricity? How do you have a sector with over 12 million customers and only about six million metered? That’s a huge gap,” he noted.
Nigeria has long struggled with a power crisis, despite being one of the largest economies in Africa. Power generation has remained inconsistent, hovering around 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts, far below the demand of over 20,000 megawatts. Many homes and businesses rely heavily on generators and alternative energy sources to survive.
Adelabu praised President Tinubu’s leadership, describing it as a turning point for the power sector. He pointed out that Nigeria has achieved a significant increase in power generation since Tinubu took office.
“In 1984, we had 2,000 megawatts. It took 40 years — until 2023 — to add another 2,000. But in just one and a half years under President Tinubu, we’ve increased it to an average of 5,800 megawatts,” the minister said. “If previous governments had added value like this, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
He added that the Tinubu administration is focused on laying a solid foundation for reliable, stable, and efficient power supply in Nigeria.
“We’re not just talking anymore; we’re taking action. We’re doing things differently across the board — in generation, transmission, and distribution. This government is committed to changing the story,” he said.
During his meeting with the World Bank delegation, Adelabu expressed the government’s readiness to work with international agencies and global partners to bring more investment and innovation into the sector.
He welcomed technical and financial support from the World Bank and other development institutions, stating that such partnerships are crucial to overcoming the current bottlenecks in the sector.
“We are ready to partner with reputable organisations to develop our power infrastructure and ensure every Nigerian enjoys constant electricity,” he said.
According to the minister, the pilot phase of the Siemens project — which includes delivery of mobile substations and power equipment — is nearing completion. This phase focuses on key upgrades to improve transmission and distribution systems in major urban centres.
Earlier reports indicated that the initial phase would target seven key power transmission facilities and 105 substations, with a focus on quick wins that would add immediate value to the national grid.
The completion of this phase is expected to improve grid stability and increase supply to critical sectors, including hospitals, schools, and manufacturing industries.
Stakeholders in the power sector have long called for reform and aggressive investment to solve Nigeria’s power problems. While there is cautious optimism about the government’s current moves, many experts warn that sustainable success will depend on consistent implementation, transparency, and political will.
Consumers have also expressed hopes that reforms in the sector will bring real change and not just policy pronouncements.
With the Siemens deal finally gaining momentum and new energy being pumped into power reforms, many Nigerians are watching closely to see whether this administration can finally deliver what others could not, stable and affordable electricity for all.
