The Minister-designate for Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has denied reports alleging that he promised to fix Nigeria’s power grid within three months.
Tegbe, through his spokesperson, Adeola Adelabu, described the reports as a distortion of comments he made during his Senate screening on May 6, 2026.
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Adelabu clarified that the minister-designate never gave a definite timeline for resolving the country’s electricity challenges, noting that reforms in the sector would depend on consultations and technical assessments.
“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 statement, Tegbe only assured lawmakers that efforts to stabilise the national grid would begin within his first 100 days in office, while broader reforms in the power sector could take up to one year.
The statement added that the proposed reforms would focus on improving the credibility of the electricity sector, addressing gas supply constraints and expanding electricity metering nationwide.
“My promise to this chamber is that Nigerians will see visible improvement in the sector,” Tegbe was quoted as saying during the screening.
The minister-designate also pledged to stabilise the national grid, modernise power infrastructure, strengthen commercial frameworks and ensure accountability across the electricity value chain.
On electricity tariffs, Tegbe reportedly assured senators that ongoing reforms would protect vulnerable consumers while also promoting sustainability and investor confidence in the sector.
The statement further noted that Tegbe remained committed to transparency, measurable progress and constructive engagement with the media in addressing Nigeria’s power challenges.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently nominated Tegbe as Minister of Power following the exit of Adebayo Adelabu during the cabinet reshuffle announced by the Presidency.
Tegbe, an engineer and public policy expert, appeared before the Senate where he outlined plans to tackle challenges in the electricity sector, including grid instability, metering gaps and infrastructure deficits.
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