Nigeria, Germany to Revive Siemens Power Project

Nigeria and Germany have reopened discussions on strengthening cooperation in the power sector following a phone call between President Bola Tinubu and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, according to a statement from the Nigerian presidency.

During the nine-minute call held on Wednesday, both leaders discussed the revival of a long-delayed presidential power initiative involving German engineering group Siemens AG, alongside broader collaboration on infrastructure and security.

The project, first agreed in 2019, aims to rehabilitate Nigeria’s transmission network and distribution substations to improve electricity reliability nationwide. It was originally designed to support delivery of 7,000 MW of reliable power in the early phase and up to 11,000 MW in later stages, but has faced regulatory, logistical and financing challenges.

Merz indicated that Siemens remains ready to continue work on the programme, while Deutsche Bank AG signalled willingness to support financing arrangements for the project. Tinubu, in turn, reiterated Nigeria’s need for technical and financial support to strengthen the country’s electricity transmission capacity.

Beyond power, the discussions also covered security cooperation, with Nigeria seeking support for reconnaissance capabilities as instability in the Sahel continues to affect the wider West African region.

Both countries further agreed to expand engagement across rail transport, skills development and the creative industries, signalling a broader economic partnership alongside efforts to advance Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure.