The camp of Nigeria’s Minister-designate for Power, Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has dismissed reports claiming he promised to resolve the country’s electricity grid challenges within three months, describing the reports as inaccurate and misleading.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesperson, Adeola Adelabu, the minister-designate clarified that no such commitment was made during his Senate screening held on May 6, 2026.
According to the statement, Tegbe had informed lawmakers that timelines for major reforms in the power sector were still being developed and would depend on detailed technical assessments and consultations with critical stakeholders.
The clarification followed widespread media reports suggesting that the minister-designate pledged to completely fix Nigeria’s troubled national grid within a three-month timeframe.
The statement stressed that while Tegbe assured senators that efforts to stabilise the national grid would commence within his first 100 days in office, he also acknowledged that broader structural reforms in the sector would require more time to achieve meaningful results.
It explained that reforms involving sector credibility, gas supply, electricity metering, and operational efficiency could take up to one year before significant improvements become evident.
“My promise to this chamber and to Nigeria is that Nigerians will see visible improvement in the sector,” Tegbe was quoted as telling lawmakers during the screening exercise.
The minister-designate also pledged to strengthen grid stability, modernise electricity infrastructure, improve commercial frameworks within the industry, and enforce accountability across the power value chain.
On electricity tariff reforms, Tegbe reportedly assured lawmakers that vulnerable consumers would be protected while government seeks to balance affordability with sector sustainability, investor confidence, and operational efficiency.
The statement further noted that the minister-designate remains committed to constructive engagement with the media and encouraged journalists to seek clarification where necessary in order to avoid misinformation.
According to the spokesperson, Tegbe regards the media as an important partner in nation building and public understanding of the proposed reforms within the power sector.
Nigeria’s electricity industry continues to grapple with longstanding challenges, including repeated national grid collapses, inadequate power generation, weak transmission infrastructure, gas supply constraints, poor metering, and mounting debts across the sector.
The clarification comes amid growing public expectations over the ability of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the country’s persistent electricity crisis and improve power supply to homes and businesses nationwide.
