Minister-designate for Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has dismissed reports alleging that he promised to fix Nigeria’s troubled power grid within three months.
Tegbe, through his spokesperson, Adeola Adelabu, described the claim as false and a distortion of comments he made during his Senate screening held on May 6, 2026.
In a statement shared on X on Thursday, the minister-designate clarified that he never gave a three-month deadline for resolving the country’s electricity challenges.
According to the statement, Tegbe only informed lawmakers that timelines for reforms in the power sector were still being reviewed and would depend on consultations, technical assessments and stakeholder engagements.
“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,” the statement said.
The clarification noted that Tegbe assured senators that immediate interventions aimed at stabilising the national grid would begin within his first 100 days in office, while broader reforms in the sector could take up to one year to achieve meaningful results.
The minister-designate also reportedly outlined plans to improve the credibility of the power sector, tackle gas supply constraints and expand 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 exercise.
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He further pledged to strengthen grid stability, modernise power infrastructure, improve commercial operations within the sector and enforce greater accountability across the electricity value chain.
On electricity tariffs, Tegbe assured lawmakers that any future reforms would balance sustainability in the sector with adequate protection for vulnerable consumers.
The statement added that the minister-designate remained committed to transparency, measurable progress and constructive engagement with the media in addressing Nigeria’s persistent electricity 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 presented plans to address grid instability, metering gaps and critical infrastructure deficits affecting the nation’s power supply.