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Nigeria’s new Minister of Power, Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has assured Nigerians that the era of recurring national grid collapses, erratic electricity supply, and persistent vandalism of power infrastructure will soon be brought under control.
Tegbe gave the assurance on Wednesday during his screening at the Senate plenary in Abuja, where he was subsequently confirmed following a rigorous session presided over by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
During the screening, lawmakers demanded clear timelines, transparency, and a concrete reform roadmap to stabilise electricity supply and restore investor confidence in Nigeria’s troubled power sector.
In a rare show of bipartisan concern, senators warned that Nigerians had grown weary of repeated promises, insisting that the new minister must deliver visible results within months.
Leading the debate, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno described the appointment as timely but stressed that the sector’s deep-rooted challenges require urgent and decisive action. He blamed frequent grid collapses on weak transmission infrastructure and noted that insecurity, particularly in the North-East, had worsened damage to power assets.
Responding, Tegbe acknowledged that the crisis in the power sector is systemic, citing poor coordination, weak enforcement of technical standards, and inadequate gas supply as key issues.
“Grid collapse is not accidental; it reflects deeper structural problems,” he said.
He announced a 100-day reform plan aimed at stabilising the grid and introduced the idea of a public performance dashboard to track progress and ensure accountability.
“If there are no results in three months, there will be none in six. Nigerians should hold us accountable,” Tegbe stated.
The minister also vowed to tackle entrenched interests allegedly benefiting from inefficiencies in the sector.
“There are elements that do not want the system to work because they profit from its failure. We will take them on,” he said.
On infrastructure vandalism, Tegbe described it as a national security threat and pledged collaboration with security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser and the military, to safeguard critical power assets.
He further addressed the sector’s liquidity crisis—estimated at about ₦6 trillion—admitting that the current financial model is unsustainable. Tegbe promised reforms, including cost-reflective tariffs, while ensuring affordability for vulnerable Nigerians.
“Electricity pricing must reflect market realities, but affordability remains essential. We will strike a fair balance,” he said.
Lawmakers, including Senator Tokunbo Abiru, emphasised the need for reliable power to drive economic growth and job creation, while Senator Orji Uzor Kalu criticised the fragmentation of the sector into generation, transmission, and distribution entities.
In response, Tegbe pledged to strengthen coordination across the electricity value chain, improve gas supply to power generation companies, and accelerate nationwide metering to reduce estimated billing and boost revenue.
He also highlighted plans to expand rural electrification through mini-grids and renewable energy solutions, particularly solar power, to reach underserved communities.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin described the power sector as Nigeria’s biggest obstacle to economic competitiveness, stressing the need for immediate results.
Despite the tough scrutiny, lawmakers expressed cautious optimism in Tegbe’s capacity, citing his experience and reform proposals.
In his closing remarks, the minister reiterated his commitment to delivering measurable progress.
“This is a difficult assignment, but progress is achievable with transparency, discipline, and collaboration. Nigerians will see change,” he said.
The Senate’s unanimous confirmation now sets the stage for what many describe as a critical test of the administration’s resolve to stabilise Nigeria’s electricity supply and end the cycle of grid failures.