Joseph Tegbe, minister of power has dismissed reports claiming he promised to fix Nigeria’s troubled national power grid within three months.
In a statement issued on Thursday, his spokesperson, Adeola Adelabu, described the reports as inaccurate and misleading.
According to the statement, Tegbe never made such a commitment during his Senate screening on May 6, 2026.
The clarification followed widespread reports suggesting the minister pledged to completely resolve the country’s long-standing grid instability within three months of taking office.
Adelabu said Tegbe had instead explained that timelines for reforms in the power sector were still being developed and would depend on technical assessments and consultations with stakeholders.
The minister reportedly stated that efforts to stabilise the national grid would begin within his first 100 days in office, while broader structural reforms could take much longer.
The statement noted that reforms involving sector credibility, gas supply, metering and operational efficiency may require up to one year before Nigerians begin to see significant progress.
“My promise to this chamber and to Nigeria is that Nigerians will see visible improvement in the sector,” Tegbe was quoted as saying during the screening.
He also pledged to modernise electricity infrastructure, strengthen commercial frameworks in the sector and enforce accountability across the electricity value chain.
On electricity tariff reforms, Tegbe reportedly assured lawmakers that vulnerable households would be protected while the government works to balance affordability, sector sustainability, investor confidence and operational efficiency.
The statement added that the minister remains open to constructive engagement with the media and urged journalists to seek clarification when necessary to avoid misinformation.
