The newly sworn-in Minister of Power, Mr. Joseph Tegbe, on Monday assured Nigerians of ongoing improvements in electricity supply.
Tegbe spoke shortly after his swearing-in ceremony in Abuja.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for entrusting him with leadership of the power sector and pledged to serve with integrity, diligence, and accountability.
“To Nigerians, we ask for your understanding. The challenges that have hindered this sector’s potential took decades to develop.
“They will not be fully resolved in weeks or months.
“Let me reiterate the commitment I made before the Senate: I will not promise what I cannot deliver, but I promise visible improvements, which you have already begun to see.
“I will communicate honestly with you every step of the way. You will witness progress as it happens.
“Our goal is clear: reliable, affordable electricity for every Nigerian home, business, and industry—around the clock.
“That journey is long, but under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, we are heading in the right direction.
“We will keep moving forward, keep delivering, and the improvements will continue,” he said.
The minister stated that since his appointment was confirmed by the Senate, he had hit the ground running.
He explained that a structured power sector reform strategy, based on disciplined execution, clear milestones, and public accountability, had been developed.
“We have engaged extensively with key sector agencies in the electricity value chain to strengthen collaboration and accelerate reforms.
“These agencies include the Ministry of Power, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the Rural Electrification Agency.
“We have also engaged with the Nigerian Independent System Operator, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company, and FGN Power Company, among others. They have all shown strong support, alignment, and readiness to deliver.
“We have held productive discussions with international development agencies and funding partners, who have expressed willingness to provide liquidity support—an encouraging sign of confidence in our reform efforts,” he added.
Tegbe highlighted some early successes.
“The 450-megawatt Alaoji Open Cycle Power Plant in Abia State, which had been shut down for three years, has been revived by NDPHC, with up to 375MW now available for dispatch to the grid.”
He also mentioned that TCN had energized new transmission assets at Katampe in Abuja and at substations in Ayede and Abeokuta, strengthening grid capacity across multiple regions.
According to him, when a 100-megavolt-ampere (MVA) transformer unexpectedly failed in Abuja, TCN and AEDC teams worked through the night and restored power within 24 hours.
He also noted that NERC recently directed DisCos to compensate Band A customers for supply shortfalls earlier this year, demonstrating a commitment to consumer protection and operator accountability.
Tegbe emphasized that these developments are the result of renewed dedication from the ministry and its agencies.
“I sincerely commend the management and staff of the Ministry of Power and its agencies for their professionalism and commitment over the past month.
“I also thank our private-sector partners for their genuine willingness to collaborate.
“Under this leadership, productivity and excellence will always be recognized and rewarded,” he concluded.
