President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians not to expect an immediate solution to the country’s ongoing electricity issues.
During a visit from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Tinubu discussed the ongoing reforms aimed at creating a more business-friendly environment and attracting foreign investments.
Addressing the persistent power supply issues, including frequent grid collapses, Tinubu acknowledged the hard work of Siemens Energy, which is partnering with Nigeria to improve the sector. However, he cautioned that the challenges would not be solved overnight, given the outdated power infrastructure.
He explained, “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 emphasized that efforts are underway to tackle these issues, including a reform he signed that decentralizes power generation and distribution. Under the new structure, states and local governments will have more control over their energy production and distribution.
“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,” he said.
The president also highlighted the role of German businesses in promoting alternative energy sources, particularly solar power, which could help address rural electrification. He pointed out the potential for using Nigeria’s abundant sunlight and underutilized dams to generate power for the benefit of the people.
“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; as mentioned earlier on, we can use the various dams that are not effective. We assure you that we will put these dams to use for the benefit of our people,” Tinubu stated.
Additionally, Tinubu underscored the importance of focusing on youth development, solid minerals, and industrial partnerships as key drivers for Nigeria’s growth. He praised the country’s vibrant, energetic youth population and highlighted Nigeria’s potential for attracting global business.
“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,” he said. “We equally have solid minerals and the best proportion we can harness to attract German businesses and partners for progress.”
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