Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has acknowledged that many Nigerians are still without reliable electricity despite ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to improve power supply across the country.
Tegbe, who disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, said he understood the frustration of Nigerians who had yet to experience the improvements being recorded in the power sector since he assumed office three months ago.
He said his administration had focused largely on diagnosing and addressing longstanding challenges in the sector, including restoring the 375-megawatt Alaoji power plant after three years offline.
“We spent much of this period on diagnosis and repair; restoring the 375MW Alaoji plant after three years offline, unlocking transmission capacity in Lagos, Abuja and other places, mobilising funds toward a debt burden that has quietly undermined this sector for years,” he said.
The minister added that the government had also deployed more than 350,000 electricity meters following the resolution of what he described as a legal quagmire involving the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors and Manufacturers of Nigeria.
Tegbe, however, admitted that the measures had yet to translate into reliable electricity for many Nigerians.
“Admittedly, many Nigerians are still without reliable power, and I understand the frustration of hearing about progress you haven’t personally felt yet. I’m not going to pretend that away,” he said.
According to him, fixing the power sector would require time and sustained reforms, stressing that he would not make promises of quick solutions that would not be sustainable.
The minister also said there was no plan to increase electricity tariffs, adding that his position was not politically motivated.
“To be clear: there’s no plan to raise tariffs, and this is no political statement,” he said.
Tegbe said his priorities when he assumed office included disciplined execution, grid stability through reform, visible improvement, and honest communication.
He thanked officials working in the sector under difficult conditions and Nigerians who continued to engage with the government on the challenges facing electricity supply.
