New Power Minister Vows Visible Improvement, But No 24/7 Electricity Yet

Nigeria's newly appointed minister of power, Joseph Tegbe, has promised that electricity supply across the country will see notable improvement. He stopped short of guaranteeing round-the-clock power for now.

Tegbe spoke on Monday after his swearing-in ceremony in Abuja. He expressed confidence that ongoing reforms in the sector will soon yield results.

“I am not promising a magic wand. I am not promising twenty-four hours, seven days a week power. We will get there ultimately,” the minister said. “What I promise Nigerians is that we will see visible improvements.”

He added that feedback over the past four weeks suggests electricity supply has improved in several parts of the country.

Tegbe replaced Adebayo Adelabu, who resigned to pursue his political ambitions. On the same day, Sola Enikanolaiye was sworn in as minister of foreign affairs, replacing Yusuf Tugar, who also quit for political reasons.

Challenges remain

Despite years of investment in generation, low plant availability, gas supply constraints, maintenance problems, transmission hitches, and an ageing grid continue to limit electricity delivery. The chronic supply shortfall has forced many homes and businesses to rely on expensive solar systems and generators.

Spikes in fuel costs, driven by the US-Israel war against Iran, have pushed energy costs higher. Many Nigerians already struggling with a cost-of-living crisis find these alternatives almost unaffordable.

President Bola Tinubu described Tegbe, born in Ibadan, Oyo State, as a renowned fiscal, economic, and institutional reform strategist. He has over 35 years of professional experience across both public and private sectors.

Recent interventions

Tegbe acknowledged the perennial challenges facing the power sector. He noted that recent interventions by the current administration are beginning to bear fruit. According to him, the Tinubu administration has invested significantly in the sector over the past three years. Plans are underway to commission more projects while ensuring vulnerable Nigerians benefit from improved supply.

The minister attributed the reported improvements to increased government support, the commitment of workers in the power sector, and engagement with critical stakeholders.

Since his Senate confirmation, Tegbe said he has met key agencies, including the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Rural Electrification Agency, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, and officials in the Federal Ministry of Power.

“They have given commitments and that is what you are seeing today with the improvements,” he remarked. “There are peculiarities in the sector and we are going to fix these peculiarities.”

Citing recent examples, Tegbe disclosed that power was restored to affected parts of Katampe, a district in Abuja, within 24 hours after a feeder station failure. He also referenced operational improvements at the Niger Delta Power Holding Company as evidence of renewed commitment.