Tegbe Denies Promising To Fix Nigeria’s Power Grid In 3 Months

The minister-designate for Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has dismissed reports alleging that he promised to fix Nigeria’s troubled power grid within three months, describing the claims as a distortion of his remarks during his Senate screening.

Tegbe, through his spokesperson, Adeola Adelabu, clarified that the minister-designate never made such a commitment during his appearance before the Senate on May 6, 2026.

In a statement shared on X on Thursday, Adelabu said Tegbe only explained that timelines for reforms in the power sector were still being developed and would depend on detailed diagnostics and consultations with stakeholders.

“Our attention has been drawn to inaccurate media reports alleging that the Honourable Minister-designate, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, promised to fix Nigeria’s power grid within three months.

“This claim is a clear misrepresentation of his remarks. At his Senate screening on May 6, 2026, Mr Tegbe made no such commitment,” the statement said.

According to the spokesperson, Tegbe told lawmakers that his administration would begin immediate efforts to stabilise the national grid within his first 100 days in office, while broader structural reforms in the sector could take up to one year to achieve.

The statement noted that the proposed reforms would focus on strengthening the credibility of the power sector, addressing gas supply constraints and expanding electricity metering nationwide.

During the screening, Tegbe reportedly assured senators that Nigerians would begin to witness noticeable improvements in electricity supply and sector performance.

“My promise to this chamber is that Nigerians will see visible improvement in the sector,” he was quoted as saying.

He also pledged to stabilise the national grid, modernise electricity infrastructure, improve commercial frameworks and enforce accountability across the electricity value chain.

On electricity tariffs, the minister-designate assured lawmakers that ongoing reforms would protect vulnerable consumers while promoting sustainability and boosting investor confidence in the sector.

The statement further said Tegbe remained committed to transparency, measurable progress and constructive engagement with the media in addressing the country’s persistent electricity challenges.

President Bola Tinubu recently nominated Tegbe as Minister of Power following the exit of Adebayo Adelabu during the cabinet reshuffle announced by the Presidency.

An engineer and public policy expert, Tegbe appeared before the Senate where he outlined plans to tackle critical issues in the electricity sector, including grid instability, metering gaps and infrastructure deficits.