The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to exercise patience in addressing the country’s electricity challenges, citing decades-old power infrastructure as a key obstacle.
Speaking during a visit by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Tinubu emphasized the government’s commitment to implementing reforms that create a business-friendly environment and attract foreign investments. His remarks came amid yet another national grid collapse on Wednesday—the 12th recorded in 2024.
While acknowledging Siemens Energy’s efforts in its partnership with Nigeria, the President cautioned against expecting immediate results. “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,” he said.
Tinubu highlighted steps taken to decentralize power distribution and generation, empowering states and subnational entities to generate and distribute electricity. “We are working to improve and reduce the possibility of problems. German businesses are also promoting alternative energy solutions. With our abundant sunlight and their technology, we can explore rural electrification and utilize dormant dams for energy production,” he explained.
The President further stressed the importance of leveraging Nigeria’s youthful population, natural resources, and industrial potential to drive development. “We have a brilliant, energetic youth population eager to learn. We have solid minerals and an industrial plan aimed at establishing assembly plants. These are opportunities we can harness to attract German businesses and other international partners for mutual progress,” he added.
The visit underscores the importance of international cooperation in tackling Nigeria’s power crisis and advancing its economic development agenda.