Minister-designate for Power, Joseph Tegbe, has denied media reports claiming he pledged to fix Nigeria’s national grid within three months, clarifying that comprehensive structural reforms could take up to a year.
Minister-designate for Power, Joseph Tegbe, has dismissed media reports claiming he promised to resolve Nigeria’s persistent national power grid collapses within three months of assuming office. In a statement released on Thursday, May 7, 2026, his spokesperson, Adeola Adelabu, described the viral reports as inaccurate and a misrepresentation of Tegbe’s testimony during his Senate screening. Adelabu clarified that while the minister-designate is committed to immediate action, no such specific three-month guarantee was ever made to the lawmakers during the confirmation hearing on May 6.
According to the clarification, Tegbe “clearly” explained to the Senate that timelines for overhauling the power sector are currently being developed and will hinge on comprehensive technical diagnostics and deep consultations with key stakeholders. The spokesperson emphasized that while initial stabilization efforts are slated to begin within the first 100 days of the new administration, deeper structural changes—particularly regarding gas supply, metering, and operational transparency—may require significantly more time to yield results. “Mr Tegbe made no such commitment. He stated unequivocally that the timelines are still being worked on and subject to diagnostics and stakeholder engagements,” the statement noted.
Despite denying the short-term fix, Tegbe reaffirmed his broader pledge to modernize Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure and enforce accountability across the value chain. During the screening, he was quoted as saying, “My promise to this chamber and to Nigeria is that Nigerians will see visible improvement in the sector.” He further assured the Senate that upcoming tariff reforms would be designed to protect vulnerable households while balancing the need for investor confidence and sector sustainability. Tegbe, a fiscal and economic reform expert, was recently nominated by President Bola Tinubu to replace the previous minister, who resigned to pursue elective office.
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