Nigeria’s newly appointed Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has stated clearly that he will not make unrealistic promises about delivering uninterrupted 24-hour electricity to Nigerians anytime soon. Instead, the minister says his focus will be on achieving visible and measurable improvements in the country’s troubled power sector within a short period.
Speaking during his screening before the Senate, Tegbe acknowledged the frustration many Nigerians continue to face due to unstable electricity supply, poor metering systems, frequent grid collapses, and a growing lack of trust between electricity consumers and operators. (Naija News)
The minister explained that Nigeria’s electricity challenges are deeply rooted and cannot be solved overnight through political promises. According to him, the country requires structural reforms, discipline within the system, and stronger accountability mechanisms to gradually stabilize electricity generation and distribution. (Naija News)
During the session, Tegbe stressed that Nigerians deserve honesty rather than empty assurances. He noted that while many citizens hope for uninterrupted power supply, the realities of the sector make such guarantees impossible at the moment.
“I will not stand here and say tomorrow, I will give you 24 hours electricity,” Tegbe said during the screening. “But I will ensure that visible improvement is seen across the country in the shortest time possible.” (Naija News)
The minister further promised to replace uncertainty in the power sector with what he described as “clarity and discipline,” adding that the government intends to strengthen transmission infrastructure and reduce repeated system failures that have plagued the national grid for years. (Naija News)
Tegbe identified several key issues affecting Nigeria’s electricity sector, including inadequate metering, poor transmission systems, gas supply challenges, and operational inefficiencies among power distribution companies. He revealed that Nigeria still faces a metering gap of about 44 percent despite recent government efforts that reportedly led to the rollout of millions of electricity meters nationwide. (Naija News)
He also warned that the recurring collapse of the national grid is not accidental but a reflection of deeper structural problems within the electricity system. According to him, fixing the sector will require difficult reforms and strict enforcement of operational standards. (Naija News)
As part of his immediate plans, Tegbe said his administration would focus on improving electricity distribution, stabilizing generation and gas supply, strengthening transmission networks, and increasing transparency across the sector. He also promised that Nigerians would begin to see measurable progress within months rather than years. (Naija News)
The Senate recently confirmed Tegbe as minister following the resignation of former Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down to pursue political ambitions in Oyo State. (Wikipedia)
Since assuming office, Tegbe has faced mounting pressure to tackle Nigeria’s long-running electricity crisis, which has continued to affect businesses, households, and economic activities across the country. Industry reports indicate that the national grid has suffered numerous collapses in recent years, leading to repeated blackouts nationwide. (Businessday NG)
The minister also disclosed that the Nigerian power sector is burdened with trillions of naira in debt, a situation that has weakened electricity generation companies and limited their ability to pay gas suppliers. (Businessday NG)
Meanwhile, Tegbe warned that certain groups benefit from the failures within the electricity system and may resist reforms aimed at improving power supply. He vowed that his administration would confront such interests while working to stabilize the sector. (Naija News)
His comments come at a time when many Nigerians remain frustrated by rising electricity tariffs, estimated billing, and persistent blackouts despite repeated government assurances of improvement. Recent protests in parts of the country have also highlighted growing public anger over the worsening power situation. (Pulse Nigeria)
Although the minister avoided making ambitious promises, he maintained that his administration would prioritize practical reforms capable of delivering noticeable improvements in electricity supply across Nigeria. (Naija News)
