‘Tough’ Reforms Loom As New Power Minister Pushes For Grid Turn Around

The Ministerial-designate for Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe has indicated readiness to embark on broad sector reforms to improve stabilize Nigeria’s fledgling grid system.

The Minister recently pledged to transform the power sector through high levels of transparency in his reforms to resuscitate the sector, which has been plagued by incessant national grid collapses and power failures

Tegbe, who spoke during the Senate screening on Wednesday, 6th May, 2026, acknowledged persistent challenges across the power value chain, noting that while there is no “quick fix,” there is a “disciplined path to solving it,” anchored on execution discipline and measurable progress.

“We will not do things the way we used to do before. I will not promise what I cannot deliver. We must close the metering gap and ensure Nigerians can track performance through a transparent public dashboard,” he said.

According to him, the sector must be properly structured, and the people deserve to see real improvement. “We will come with clear milestones and timelines. He further remarked, “We understand the issues. What is needed now is honest engagement and firm execution.

“We will tell Nigerians the truth. We must reduce system disturbances and strengthen transmission, tariffs must reflect services, and tariffs must justify service, and we must close the trust gap between operators and our citizens,” he told the lawmakers.

Tegbe stated that broader reforms, such as restoring sector credibility, improving gas supply, and accelerating metering, are expected to materialize within the first year.

However, this is contrary to some reports in some national publications that claim he promised fixing the power sector in 100 days, his views on implementing reforms anchored on the renewed hope agenda and transparency were well articulated

Tegbe is known for his active performance and incredible achievements in his previous appointments as the Director General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), and Chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC)

With over thirty years experience in KPMG, Tegbe, who started as a Civil Engineer, is an alumnus of Lagos Business School, Nigeria; INSEAD, France; Harvard Kennedy S;chool of Government and Harvard Business School.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA); Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (FCIT), and Certified in Governance Enterprise IT (CGEIT).

His experience includes significant engagements within the power sector, particularly in regulatory and institutional reform involving agencies such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).