Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has pledged to drive comprehensive reforms aimed at improving electricity supply, strengthening accountability mechanisms, and restoring public confidence in the country’s power sector.
Speaking after formally settling into office following his confirmation by the Senate, Tegbe said his administration had developed a structured reform agenda anchored on discipline, measurable performance targets, and transparent engagement with the public.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him and disclosed that he had embarked on extensive consultations with key stakeholders across the electricity value chain, including the Federal Ministry of Power, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), and other sector institutions.
According to him, the engagements have produced a shared understanding among operators on the urgency of accelerating reforms and improving service delivery to Nigerians.
Tegbe also revealed that discussions with international development partners and financial institutions had yielded positive indications of support, particularly in addressing longstanding liquidity constraints within the sector.
Highlighting early interventions, the minister announced the revival of the 450-megawatt Alaoji Open Cycle Power Plant in Abia State, which had been dormant for about three years. He noted that the facility, rehabilitated by the NDPHC, is now capable of contributing up to 375 megawatts to the national grid.
He further pointed to improvements in transmission infrastructure, including the energisation of new assets at Katampe in Abuja and substations in Ayede and Abeokuta, which are expected to enhance electricity delivery across multiple regions.
On consumer protection, Tegbe welcomed recent regulatory directives requiring electricity distribution companies to compensate Band A customers affected by supply shortfalls, describing the move as a step toward stronger accountability and improved service standards.
He also cited the rapid restoration of power in parts of Abuja following the failure of a 100MVA transformer, commending the coordinated response of the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, which resolved the outage within 24 hours.
The minister praised staff of the Ministry of Power and its agencies for their commitment and professionalism, while also acknowledging the contributions of private sector investors and development partners. He assured that efficiency, innovation, and performance would be key benchmarks under his leadership.
Acknowledging the scale of challenges in the sector, Tegbe appealed for public patience, noting that decades of infrastructure deficits and systemic inefficiencies cannot be resolved immediately.
He reiterated his commitment to realistic expectations and transparent governance, adding that while he would avoid making unrealistic promises, Nigerians would begin to see steady improvements backed by regular updates on sector performance.
Tegbe expressed confidence that sustained collaboration among government institutions, investors, and development partners would ultimately deliver a more reliable, efficient, and sustainable electricity supply system for Nigeria.
