ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The new Minister of Power, Olasunkanmi Tegbe, on Wednesday assured Nigerians that the persistent collapse of the national grid, unstable electricity supply, and recurring vandalism of power infrastructure would soon be addressed through urgent reforms aimed at stabilising the country’s struggling power sector.
Tegbe gave the assurance during his screening before the Senate plenary in Abuja, where he was later confirmed as minister following extensive questioning by lawmakers on the state of the electricity sector.
The confirmation came after a rigorous screening session presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, during which senators demanded clear timelines, transparency, and a concrete reform agenda to improve electricity supply and rebuild investor confidence.
Lawmakers also handed the minister what they described as a firm mandate to deliver quick and measurable improvements in a sector plagued by repeated grid failures, weak transmission infrastructure, and a worsening liquidity crisis estimated at trillions of naira.
In a rare bipartisan position, senators warned that Nigerians were weary of unfulfilled promises and insisted that Tegbe must produce visible results within months or risk losing public confidence.
Leading the debate, Senator Tahir Monguno (Borno North) described the appointment as timely but noted that the magnitude of the sector’s problems required decisive and immediate action.
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He condemned the repeated collapse of the national grid, describing it as a major obstacle to Nigeria’s industrial development, and blamed transmission challenges for the inability to evacuate generated electricity efficiently.
“Grid collapse has become a recurring decimal, undermining development. Transmission has failed to match generation capacity,” he said, adding that insecurity in parts of the North-East had worsened damage to infrastructure.
Responding, Tegbe acknowledged that the challenges in the sector were structural rather than isolated, citing poor coordination, weak enforcement of technical standards, and inadequate gas supply as key causes of instability.
“Grid collapse is not accidental; it reflects deeper structural problems,” he said.
He promised a 100-day reform programme aimed at stabilising the grid and introducing a public performance dashboard that would enable Nigerians to monitor progress and hold the ministry accountable.
“If there are no results in three months, there will be none in six. Nigerians should hold us accountable,” he declared.
Tegbe also expressed concern about vested interests benefiting from inefficiencies in the sector, vowing to tackle sabotage directly.
“There are elements that do not want the system to work because they benefit from its failure. We will take them on,” he said.
On the vandalism of power infrastructure, the minister-designate described the trend as a threat to national security and pledged stronger collaboration with security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser and the military, to safeguard critical assets.
He also acknowledged the worsening liquidity crisis in the sector, estimated at about N6tn, which lawmakers said had discouraged investment and weakened the electricity value chain.
In response, Tegbe admitted that the current financial framework was unsustainable and pledged reforms, including market-reflective tariffs while ensuring affordability for vulnerable Nigerians.
“Electricity pricing must reflect market realities, but affordability remains essential. We will ensure a fair balance,” he said.
Lawmakers, including Senator Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos East), demanded specific timelines for achieving stable electricity supply, stressing that reliable power remains vital for economic growth and employment generation.
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Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) criticised the separation of the sector into generation, transmission, and distribution companies, arguing that poor synergy had worsened inefficiency.
Tegbe assured the Senate that his reform strategy would prioritise stronger coordination across the electricity value chain, improved gas supply to generation companies, and accelerated nationwide metering to reduce estimated billing and boost revenue collection.
On rural electrification, he said the government would expand mini-grid and renewable energy projects, especially solar solutions, to underserved communities.
“Decentralised energy will be key to reaching underserved communities and ensuring inclusive access,” he said.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin stressed the urgency of reform, describing the power sector as Nigeria’s greatest obstacle to economic competitiveness.
“Our industries cannot thrive without reliable electricity. What we need now are results, not assurances,” he said.
Despite the intense scrutiny, lawmakers expressed cautious optimism about Tegbe’s ability, citing his professional experience and the clarity of his reform agenda.
In his closing remarks, the minister-designate reaffirmed his commitment to measurable progress, acknowledging the enormity of the assignment but insisting that disciplined implementation would yield results.
“This is a difficult assignment, but progress is achievable with transparency, discipline and collaboration. Nigerians will see change,” he said.
The Senate’s unanimous confirmation now paves the way for what lawmakers described as a crucial test of the administration’s determination to end the cycle of grid collapses and stabilise electricity supply in Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu had on Tuesday written to the Senate requesting Tegbe’s screening as minister to replace Chief Adebayo Adelabu, who resigned to pursue the Oyo State governorship ambition.