Video: Tegbe vows quick improvements, rules out 24-hour electricity promise
Abdullateef Fowewe
Nigeria’s newly confirmed Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has pledged measurable improvements in the power sector “in the shortest possible time,” but stopped short of promising round-the-clock electricity supply.
Speaking during his Senate screening, Tegbe said, “I cannot promise Nigerians 24 hours power but there will be a measurable improvement in the sector in the shortest possible time.”
An Oyo State indigene and civil engineer, Tegbe previously served as Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership.
He brings over 30 years of experience in public-private sector roles focused on fiscal reform and policy implementation.
His appointment follows the resignation of predecessor Adebayo Adelabu.
Tegbe inherits a troubled sector where Nigeria’s national grid operates at low efficiency.
Only about 32% of its 13,625 MW installed capacity is typically available, with average dispatch hovering between 4,000-5,000 MW.
Chronic challenges include gas supply constraints, over ₦6 trillion in debts, and frequent nationwide outages.
Senators grilled Tegbe on these issues during the screening, emphasising the urgency for reforms amid public frustration over unreliable power, which hampers economic growth and daily life.
