Minister-designate for Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has denied reports claiming that he promised to fix Nigeria’s troubled national power grid within three months if confirmed as minister.
Tegbe described the reports as inaccurate and misleading, saying his comments during his Senate screening were misunderstood and wrongly reported in some sections of the media.
The clarification was contained in a statement released on Thursday by his spokesperson, Adeola Adelabu, and posted on the social media platform X.
According to the statement, Tegbe never gave a three-month deadline to solve the country’s electricity problems but only explained that efforts to stabilise the power sector would begin within his first 100 days in office.
“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,” the statement said.
“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 explained that the minister-designate merely informed senators that timelines for reforms in the power sector were still being worked out and would depend on consultations, technical assessments and engagement with major stakeholders in the industry.
According to the statement, Tegbe acknowledged the seriousness of Nigeria’s electricity challenges and stressed the need for realistic and practical solutions rather than unrealistic promises.
The minister-designate reportedly assured lawmakers that visible improvements would be seen in the power sector once reforms begin.
“My promise to this chamber is that Nigerians will see visible improvement in the sector,” he was quoted as saying during the Senate screening.
Tegbe also reportedly outlined some of the immediate priorities his ministry would focus on if confirmed by the Senate.
These include stabilising the national grid, modernising electricity infrastructure, improving commercial systems within the sector and ensuring accountability among operators across the electricity value chain.
The statement added that broader structural reforms in the power sector may take about one year to produce significant results because of the complexity of Nigeria’s electricity challenges.
According to his spokesperson, Tegbe believes fixing the power sector requires coordinated action involving generation companies, transmission authorities, distribution companies, gas suppliers and government regulators.
One of the major issues highlighted during the Senate screening was the challenge of gas supply to power plants.
Nigeria generates much of its electricity through gas-fired power stations, but inadequate gas supply has remained a major reason for low power generation and frequent blackouts.
The statement said Tegbe plans to work on improving the credibility of the power sector to attract more investment and strengthen confidence among investors and stakeholders.
Another major focus of the proposed reforms is electricity metering.
Millions of Nigerian electricity consumers still rely on estimated billing because they do not have prepaid meters.
This has remained one of the biggest complaints among electricity users, many of whom accuse distribution companies of overbilling customers.
The minister-designate reportedly told senators that expanding electricity metering would be one of the key priorities under his leadership.
On electricity tariffs, Tegbe assured lawmakers that any future reforms would protect poor and vulnerable Nigerians while also ensuring the financial sustainability of the sector.
The issue of electricity tariffs has remained highly controversial in Nigeria, especially following repeated increases in recent years.
While the Federal Government and industry operators argue that cost-reflective tariffs are necessary to sustain investments and improve electricity supply, many Nigerians complain that they are paying more for poor service.
Power supply remains one of Nigeria’s biggest economic and social challenges.
For decades, homes, businesses and industries across the country have struggled with unstable electricity supply, forcing many companies and households to rely heavily on generators.
Despite several reforms and billions of naira invested in the sector over the years, Nigeria still generates far below its electricity needs.
The national grid has also suffered repeated collapses, leading to widespread blackouts in many parts of the country.
The recurring grid failures have become a major source of frustration for Nigerians and often trigger public criticism of government officials handling the power sector.
It was against this background that reports claiming Tegbe promised to fix the grid within three months quickly gained attention on social media and in political discussions.
However, his spokesperson insisted that the reports distorted what the minister-designate actually said during the Senate screening.
The statement added that Tegbe remains committed to transparency and open engagement with the media and the public.
“He remains focused on measurable progress and practical reforms that will improve electricity supply across the country,” the statement noted.
President Bola Tinubu recently nominated Tegbe as Minister of Power following changes made during a cabinet reshuffle announced by the Presidency.
The reshuffle led to the exit of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, as part of broader changes within the Federal Executive Council.
Tegbe, an engineer and businessman, is expected to take over one of the most difficult ministries in the country if confirmed by the Senate.
Many citizens and businesses have repeatedly called for urgent improvements in power supply to reduce dependence on generators and lower the cost of doing business.
For now, Tegbe says his focus is on building a realistic roadmap for reform rather than making promises that may be difficult to achieve within a short time.