FG plans national electricity complaint centre, commissions 3MW varsity mini-grid

The Federal Government plans to set up a national call centre where Nigerians can report electricity complaints and get them resolved. Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe disclosed this on Wednesday during the commissioning of a three-megawatt hybrid mini-grid project at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja.

The event also featured a renewable energy workshop and training centre. The mini-grid is expected to benefit about 58,726 students, with 388 streetlights installed around campus to improve visibility and security.

Call centre to handle complaints, create jobs

Tegbe said the proposed call centre will give Nigerians a central platform to lodge complaints about electricity supply and other related challenges. “My office is working on a call centre where electricity complaints across the country can be lodged and resolved,” he said.

He added that the initiative is expected to create sustainable employment opportunities for young Nigerians across the country.

Vandalism: police, NSCDC, EFCC joint team

The minister also disclosed plans for a dedicated reporting channel through which Nigerians can alert authorities about vandalism of critical electricity infrastructure. He said a joint team of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the EFCC is working to curb the vandalism of electricity assets across the country.

“We are also working through a joint team of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the EFCC to curb the vandalism of electricity assets across the country,” Tegbe said.

He called on students and the university community to help protect electricity infrastructure by promptly reporting acts of vandalism. “I expect the student community to support our ongoing efforts to stem the tide of vandalism. I therefore charge all of you to report any such act whenever you see it, not just on this solar system, but on other power assets such as transformers and transmission towers,” he said.

Mini-grid to cut diesel costs at Yakubu Gowon University

Tegbe said the hybrid mini-grid project will support academic research, reduce dependence on diesel-powered generators and lower the institution’s energy costs. He said the project reflects the Federal Government’s broader focus on directing electricity investments towards productive activities and services that improve Nigerians’ lives.

“This connection between infrastructure and human capability is central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Under his leadership, investment in electricity is being directed towards services and productive activities that improve people’s lives,” Tegbe said.

He added that completing projects across successive phases demonstrates the government’s commitment to maintaining continuity in national development programmes.

What it means for consumers and businesses

For Nigerian businesses and consumers, the planned complaint centre points to a single channel for reporting outages and electricity service problems. The vandalism reporting plan is also aimed at protecting transformers, transmission towers and other power assets that affect supply. At Yakubu Gowon University, the 3MW mini-grid is expected to cut diesel use and lower energy costs, a model the government says it wants to extend to productive activities.