The President’s ministerial nominee Joseph Tegbe has warned that Nigeria’s electricity crisis cannot be resolved through quick fixes, insisting that only transparent and disciplined reforms will deliver lasting results.
Tegbe made the remarks during his screening before the Senate Committee of the Whole, where he appeared alongside other nominees for ministerial confirmation on Wednesday.
He told lawmakers that if confirmed, his administration of the power sector would be guided by honesty, accountability, and measurable performance.
“We will not do things the way we used to do before. I will not promise what I cannot deliver,” he said.
Tegbe, who was appointed in 2025 as Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, described electricity as a critical driver of national development and economic stability.
He noted that despite repeated reforms over the years, Nigeria’s power sector has continued to struggle with poor output and systemic inefficiencies.
According to him, priority areas for reform would include distribution efficiency, metering expansion, transparency, and increased participation by state governments.
“We must close the metering gap and ensure Nigerians can track performance through a transparent public dashboard. The sector must be properly structured, and the people deserve to see real improvement,” he stated.
Tegbe also proposed a decentralised approach to electricity generation, saying sub-national governments should be encouraged to generate power to reduce pressure on the national grid.
“We will come with clear milestones. If results are not visible in three months, they won’t be in six,” he added.
During the screening session, senators raised several concerns about the challenges facing the sector.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, warned about persistent grid instability, noting that the system often collapses when supply exceeds about 5,000 megawatts.
He also cautioned about entrenched interests in the power sector, urging the nominee to ensure electricity distribution companies comply with contractual obligations.
Former Minister of State for Power and Steel, Senator Danjuma Goje, expressed frustration over the lack of progress despite massive investments in the sector since 1999.
He suggested that Nigeria may need long-term international partnerships, including technical cooperation with China, to achieve meaningful reforms.
On security challenges, Senator Tahir Monguno questioned how the nominee would address frequent vandalism of power infrastructure across the country.
In response, Tegbe identified gas supply shortages, weak enforcement, and poor grid discipline as major obstacles affecting stable electricity supply.
He stressed the need for strict compliance, improved market regulation, and realistic tariff structures to attract investment and stabilise the sector.
“We understand the issues. What is needed now is honest engagement and firm execution. We will tell Nigerians the truth,” he said.
If confirmed, Tegbe is expected to oversee reforms aimed at stabilising Nigeria’s electricity supply and improving overall sector performance.
