President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has cautioned Nigerians against expecting an immediate resolution to the nation’s electricity challenges, citing the outdated state of the country’s power infrastructure.
Speaking during the visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Tinubu emphasized ongoing reforms aimed at creating a business-friendly environment and attracting foreign investments. Addressing issues such as the epileptic power supply and frequent grid collapses, the President stated that, despite efforts by Siemens Energy under its partnership with Nigeria, significant improvements would take time.
“Nigeria, being a nation in a hurry, wants a magical response. But don’t forget, those transmission lines are about 50 to 60 years old,” Tinubu said.
He highlighted steps being taken to tackle the problem, including the decentralization of power generation and distribution. “The snags are what we are trying to improve and reduce the possibility of problems. We are doing that. I’ve signed a reform that decentralised the power distribution and generation in the country. The states and various subsectors and subnational can generate their power and distribute it; they are working on it all.”
President Tinubu also stressed the importance of exploring alternative energy sources, particularly solar power and hydroelectric dams, in collaboration with German businesses. “We have German businesses who are promoting alternative sources of energy, and they are here. We have the sun; they have the technology. I think we can utilise that for rural electrification. We assure you that we will put these dams to use for the benefit of our people,” he said.
The President also underscored the role of Nigeria’s youth and natural resources in driving economic growth, while calling for stronger industrial partnerships with Germany.
“We have a brilliant youth population that is energetic and ready to learn. We have a population that is market-friendly. We have an industrial plan that is anxious to establish assembly plants.
“We equally have solid minerals and the best proportion we can harness to attract German businesses and partners for progress,” Tinubu said.
President Steinmeier’s visit highlights the growing collaboration between Nigeria and Germany, as both nations seek to deepen ties in energy, infrastructure, and industrial development.
