By Ayorinde Oluokun
Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, the Minister of power designate has denied claims that he promised to fix the problem of frequent collapse of the national electricity grid within three months of his assumption of office during his screening by the Senate.
Tegbe said this while disputing media reports that he promised to stop the problem of frequent collapse of the national grid within three months when he was being grilled by senators during his screening at the upper chamber of the national assembly on May 6, 2026.
“Mr Tegbe made no such commitment. He stated unequivocally that the timelines are still being worked on and subject to diagnostics and stakeholder engagements,” Adeola Adelabu, spokesperson to Tegbe said in a statement on Thursday.
Instead, the statement indicated that Tegbe assured the lawmakers that initial grid stabilisation efforts would commence within his first 100 days in office as minister.
Adelabu also quoted Tegbe as telling the senators that undertaking structural reforms of the sector, particularly in sector credibility, gas supply, and metering, might take about a year.
“My promise to this chamber is that Nigerians will see visible improvement in the sector,” he quoted Tegbe as saying during the screening.
Adelabu added that the Minister-designate also pledged to stabilise the national grid, modernise infrastructure, enhance commercial frameworks, and enforce accountability across the entire electricity value chain.
“On tariff reforms, he promised to protect vulnerable households while balancing sustainability, investor confidence, and broader sector efficiency.
“The Minister-Designate remains open to constructive media engagement and welcomes requests for clarification where necessary, recognizing the role of the media as partners in nation-building, especially in fostering accurate public understanding of the imminent reforms in the power sector.
“The Minister-designate remains committed to disciplined execution, transparency, and measurable progress in addressing Nigeria’s power challenges,” Adelabu said.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Tegbe to replace Adebayo Adelabu who resigned to contest Oyo State governorship primary about two weeks ago.
The Senate has cleared Tegbe for swearing in as a minister after his successful screening on 6 May.
