POWER MINISTER PROMISES END TO GRID COLLAPSES, PLEDGES URGENT SECTOR REFORMS
Read Time:2 Minute, 19 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
The new Minister of Power, Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has assured Nigerians that the era of repeated national grid collapses, erratic electricity supply and persistent vandalism of power infrastructure will soon be brought under control through urgent reforms in the power sector.
Tegbe gave the assurance on Wednesday during his screening and confirmation exercise at the Senate plenary in Abuja, where lawmakers subjected him to rigorous questioning over the persistent challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
The session was presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who oversaw his confirmation following extensive deliberations by senators who demanded clear timelines and measurable outcomes.
Lawmakers expressed frustration over decades of instability in the sector, warning that Nigerians could no longer tolerate repeated promises without tangible improvements in electricity supply.
Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North) described the recurring collapse of the national grid as a major setback to Nigeria’s industrial development, blaming weak transmission infrastructure for the crisis.
In response, Tegbe admitted that the problems in the sector were structural rather than isolated, citing poor coordination, inadequate gas supply and weak enforcement of technical standards as key challenges.
“Grid collapse is not accidental; it reflects deeper structural problems,” he said, adding that he would introduce a 100-day reform plan aimed at stabilising the grid.
He also proposed a public performance dashboard to allow citizens track 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 said.
The minister-designate further alleged that entrenched interests benefiting from inefficiencies in the sector would be confronted as part of the reform agenda.
On vandalism of power infrastructure, Tegbe described it as a national security threat and pledged closer collaboration with security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser and the military, to safeguard critical assets.
Lawmakers also raised concerns over the sector’s liquidity crisis, estimated at about N6 trillion, which they said had continued to discourage investment and weaken the electricity value chain.
Tegbe acknowledged the financial challenges, describing the current model as unsustainable, and pledged reforms including market-reflective tariffs while ensuring protection for vulnerable consumers.
He also assured that efforts would be intensified to improve gas supply to power generation companies, accelerate nationwide metering, and reduce estimated billing.
On rural electrification, he said the government would expand renewable energy and mini-grid solutions to improve access in underserved communities.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin stressed the urgency of reforms, saying reliable electricity was critical to Nigeria’s economic survival and competitiveness.
Following his confirmation, lawmakers said Tegbe’s appointment would serve as a major test of the government’s commitment to stabilising Nigeria’s power sector and ending years of persistent grid failures.
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