Ministerial nominee Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe has told the Senate that resolving Nigeria’s electricity challenges will require bold, transparent reforms, warning that there are no quick fixes to the long-standing crisis.
Speaking during his screening at the Committee of the Whole on Wednesday, Tegbe said a departure from past approaches is necessary to deliver meaningful progress in the sector.
“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 Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership in 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, described electricity as critical to economic growth and national confidence, noting that previous reform efforts have fallen short of expectations.
He pledged a results-driven strategy focused on execution, identifying key priority areas such as power distribution, metering, transparency, and increased participation by sub-national 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 said.
Tegbe also highlighted the need to empower state governments to generate electricity, thereby reducing 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 session, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe, raised concerns over grid instability, noting that the system frequently collapses when supply exceeds 5,000 megawatts.
According to him, “You must meet the generator ‘cartel’! They will come after you. Make sure that the DISCOs keep to the terms of their contracts.”
Former Minister of State for Power and Steel, Danjuma Goje, also criticised the lack of progress in the sector despite significant investments since 1999, calling for more radical solutions. He suggested exploring long-term collaboration with China to revamp Nigeria’s power infrastructure.
On security issues, Tahir Monguno questioned how the nominee plans to address vandalism of critical power assets.
In response, Tegbe identified gas supply constraints and weak grid discipline as key challenges, stressing the importance of stabilising the grid, enforcing compliance, and implementing market-driven tariffs.
“We understand the issues. What is needed now is honest engagement and firm execution. We will tell Nigerians the truth,” he said.
The screening reflects ongoing efforts by the Senate to evaluate key appointments as the government seeks to reposition the power sector for improved efficiency and reliability.
