The Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has officially assumed office, pledging to strengthen collaboration, improve governance, and enhance accountability across Nigeria’s electricity value chain in line with the Federal Government’s objectives for the sector.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executive Officers and heads of agencies and parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Power at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, Tegbe emphasised that achieving the administration’s goals for the power sector would require a unified and coordinated approach among all stakeholders.
The minister noted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has established clear priorities for the power sector, including increasing generation capacity, expanding and modernising transmission infrastructure, improving sector liquidity, and accelerating investments in renewable energy.
While acknowledging the progress recorded over the past three years, he stressed the need for renewed commitment to meet and exceed established targets.
He said: “We have made considerable progress, but we are not yet where we want to be because we have not met the targets set for us. I believe that by approaching things differently, we can achieve and even surpass those targets.”
Describing the power sector as a critical driver of national development and economic growth, the minister observed that many of the sector’s challenges are rooted in governance and coordination rather than purely technical issues.
“This sector faces serious challenges. Technical issues account for only a fraction of those challenges,” he said, adding, “The larger challenge is governance. No agency, no department, no unit can solve this sector’s problems alone.”
Tegbe called for stronger synergy among institutions within the sector, urging stakeholders to operate as “one team with one mandate.”
He underscored the importance of open communication, information sharing, and coordinated action in addressing longstanding challenges and delivering sustainable improvements in power supply.
The minister also highlighted the strategic role of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in maintaining grid stability and strengthening transmission infrastructure.
He commended the organisation for its prompt response to a recent feeder outage, which was resolved within the timeframe directed by the ministry.
He said: “TCN, I am happy with you. The feeder station went off and there was a series of communications. I gave a directive that it should be fixed within 12 hours. By 5:20 p.m., I received confirmation that it had been restored. That night, Mr. President was informed that the problem had been resolved within 12 hours.”
According to the minister, the swift restoration of supply demonstrates what can be achieved through dedication, teamwork, and effective coordination among sector operators.
Tegbe further disclosed plans to introduce a performance-based incentive framework across the power sector to reward productivity, innovation, and excellence.
He assured stakeholders of regular engagement and a transparent approach to addressing industry challenges and advancing sector reforms.
Agencies and parastatals represented at the meeting included the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), FGN Power Company, and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), among others.
