By Danjuma Amodu
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has assured Nigerians of his commitment to implementing far-reaching reforms aimed at improving electricity supply, strengthening sector accountability, and restoring public confidence in the nation’s power industry.
Speaking after settling into office following his confirmation by the Senate, the minister said his administration had already developed a structured reform agenda focused on discipline, measurable targets, and transparent communication with the public.
Tegbe expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him and disclosed that extensive consultations had been held with key institutions across the electricity value chain.
These engagements, he said, involved 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 major stakeholders.
According to the minister, the consultations have produced a common understanding among sector players on the need to accelerate reforms and improve service delivery to Nigerians.
He also revealed that discussions with international development agencies and financial partners had yielded encouraging outcomes, with several organisations indicating readiness to provide financial support to help address liquidity challenges that have long constrained the sector.
“I will not make unrealistic pledges, but citizens will witness steady improvements and receive regular updates on progress in the sector,” Tegbe said.
Highlighting early gains, Tegbe announced the revival of the 450-megawatt Alaoji Open Cycle Power Plant in Abia State, which had remained inactive for about three years. The facility, rehabilitated by the NDPHC, now has the capacity to contribute up to 375 megawatts to the national grid.
The minister further pointed to recent improvements in transmission infrastructure, noting that TCN had successfully energised new assets at Katampe in Abuja as well as substations in Ayede and Abeokuta, developments expected to enhance power delivery across several regions.
On consumer protection, Tegbe welcomed recent regulatory actions requiring electricity distribution companies to compensate Band A customers affected by supply shortfalls. He described the directive as evidence of a growing commitment to holding operators accountable while safeguarding the interests of consumers.
He also cited the swift restoration of electricity in parts of Abuja following the unexpected failure of a 100MVA transformer, praising the coordinated efforts of TCN and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) teams that resolved the outage within 24 hours.
The minister commended workers across the Ministry of Power and its agencies for their dedication and professionalism, while also acknowledging the support of private sector investors and partners. He assured stakeholders that efficiency, innovation, and performance would be rewarded under his leadership.
While acknowledging the magnitude of challenges facing the electricity industry, Tegbe appealed to Nigerians for patience, stressing that decades of infrastructure deficits and systemic problems could not be resolved overnight.
He reiterated his commitment to realistic expectations and transparent governance, promising that while he would not make unrealistic pledges, citizens would witness steady improvements and receive regular updates on progress in the sector.
The minister said the reform process was already underway and expressed confidence that sustained collaboration among government institutions, private investors, and development partners would ultimately deliver a more reliable and efficient power system for the country.
