Nigeria's 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. Tegbe made the admission in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, recognizing the frustration of Nigerians who have yet to feel the impact of reforms and interventions in the power sector since he assumed office three months ago.
According to Tegbe, the government has spent much of the period diagnosing and addressing longstanding challenges that have continued to undermine electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. The minister highlighted the restoration of the 375-megawatt Alaoji power plant in Abia State, which had remained offline for three years, as one of the major interventions.
Tegbe also mentioned that the government has worked to unlock transmission capacity in Lagos, Abuja, and other parts of the country, while mobilizing funds to address the sector's longstanding debt burden. He stated that more than 350,000 electricity meters had been deployed following the resolution of a legal dispute involving the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors and manufacturers.
Despite the interventions, Tegbe admitted that they have yet to translate into reliable electricity supply for many Nigerians. He acknowledged the frustration of Nigerians who have yet to feel the impact of progress in the power sector, saying he would not pretend that away.
Tegbe emphasized that reforming Nigeria's power sector would take time and sustained efforts, stressing that he would not make promises of quick solutions that could not be maintained. He also dismissed concerns over a possible increase in electricity tariffs, saying there was no plan by the government to raise tariffs.
The minister reiterated the government's commitment to improving grid stability, ensuring more reliable electricity supply, and enhancing billing accuracy. According to Tegbe, the government is also working to ensure that complaints from electricity consumers are resolved more quickly.
Tegbe thanked officials in the power sector for their efforts under difficult conditions and acknowledged Nigerians who continued to engage the government over challenges affecting electricity supply. He concluded by saying, "We're not there yet, but we're moving."
Key points
- The Nigerian government has restored the 375-megawatt Alaoji power plant in Abia State, which had been offline for three years.
- Over 350,000 electricity meters have been deployed following the resolution of a legal dispute between the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors and manufacturers.
- The government has no plan to raise electricity tariffs, according to Minister Joseph Tegbe.
