Joseph Bakare
The new Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has pledged to serve Nigerians with honesty and diligence, saying he has worked with experts to draw up a structured reform strategy focused on discipline, clear milestones and public accountability.
Tegbe who thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the appointment said, his team has “hit the ground running” since his Senate confirmation. According to him, substantive engagements have been held with all critical sector agencies including the Ministry of Power, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Rural Electrification Agency, FGN Power Holding Company and others players in the power sector
According to him, the agencies are aligned and ready to deliver on the reform agenda. Saying, discussions with International Development Organizations and funding partners have also yielded positive signals, with partners expressing willingness to provide liquidity support to the sector.
He said, preliminary results are already visible across the grid. The 450-Megawatt Alaoji Open Cycle Power Plant in Abia State, which was shut down for three years, has been revived by NDPHC and now has up to 375 Megawatts available for dispatch to the national grid.
The newly sworn-in minister also noted that TCN recently energized new transmission assets at Katampe in Abuja, and at substations in Ayede and Abeokuta, strengthening capacity across multiple regions.
On consumer protection, he cited NERC’s recent directive to Distribution Companies to compensate Band A customers for supply shortfalls recorded earlier this year. He described it as a firm signal that consumers will be protected and operators held accountable. He also highlighted a rapid response in Abuja where TCN and AEDC teams restored supply within 24 hours after a 100MVA transformer failed unexpectedly.
The Minister equally commended the management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Power and all its agencies for renewed dedication and professionalism over the past month. He also acknowledged private sector partners for their willingness to work toward common goals, assuring them that productivity and excellence will be recognized and rewarded under his leadership.
Addressing Nigerians on the issue of electricity, the Minister asked for patience and understanding, noting that decades of challenges in the power sector cannot be reversed in weeks or months. He reiterated his Senate pledge: he will not promise what he cannot deliver, but Nigerians will see visible improvement and honest communication every step of the way.