Tinubu Orders PPI Works to Be Rolled out in Three Phases, Calls for Substation Upgrades

President Bola Tinubu has asked that the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) projects be carried out in three clear phases as part of efforts to deliver steady and affordable power across Nigeria. He gave this instruction when he met a Siemens Energy team led by Dietmar Siersdorfer at the State House in Abuja.

He praised Siemens Energy for its long-term role in the PPI, which started in 2019 under former President Buhari to tackle gaps in power transmission and distribution. The President said his government will back the project with the needed political and financial support.

“I appreciate the partnership on the initiative. The progress of the project to date is notable, and we can feel it. But it is not where we want it to be,” Tinubu said.

“The President also directed the expansion of some major transformer substations from two to three phases to boost the country’s power supply,” a statement signed by the President’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga on Monday stated.

Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu noted that the sector has seen important gains, including moves to open up and decentralise the market. He listed achievements such as the signing of the Electricity Act 2023 and the launch of a National Integrated Electricity Policy after 24 years, actions that drew over $2.2 billion in fresh investment. The minister also said the policy led to the start of fifteen state electricity markets.

“Since the signing of the Accelerated Agreement at COP28 in Dubai in December 2023, an event you personally attended alongside the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the PPI has recorded notable milestones across its implementation phases.

“Under the Pilot phase (Phase Zero), we have achieved significant infrastructure upgrades and capacity enhancements that are already impacting grid stability and reliability across the country.”

Mr Adelabu added that in December 2024 the Federal Executive Council approved the EPC contract for Phase One, Batch One, covering upgrades and new substations in Abeokuta, Offa, Ayede‑Ibadan, Sokoto, and Onitsha. Civil works and equipment plans are in place, with two of these five sites expected to be ready by December 2026.

He said Phase One, Batch Two will add six Brownfield and ten Greenfield substations, together expected to add about 4,104MW to the grid. The President’s instruction to move some substations from two to three phases is meant to raise capacity and improve supply as these works proceed.