Minister of Power Chief Joseph Tegbe has sparked national debate after claiming that some electricity consumers have urged him to “slow down” efforts to expand power grid reliability because their home freezers are running continuously. Speaking on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, during the commissioning of a 3-megawatt solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University (formerly the University of Abuja), Tegbe asserted that recent grid stabilization measures have delivered up to 18 hours of daily electricity to areas previously accustomed to prolonged blackouts.
What was the context behind Power Minister Joseph Tegbe’s controversial statement?
Addressing university administrators, students, and energy sector operators, Tegbe—who assumed office in mid-2026—defended his ministry’s targeted interventions under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, claiming that public feedback reflects notable improvements across select distribution corridors.
“Places that didn’t have light at all for three months are now having 18 hours light. Some areas called me to say, look, I should slow down, that everything in their freezer is freezing. That is what freezer is meant to do. Let it freeze the food that needs to be frozen.”
Beyond his anecdotal remarks, the minister highlighted critical structural challenges confronting the nation’s energy value chain, pointing out that much of Nigeria’s transmission and distribution infrastructure is over 40 years old and undergoing systematic replacement. He also raised alarm over severe infrastructure vandalism, revealing that three key transmission towers in Birnin Kebbi supplying Kebbi State and neighboring Niger Republic were recently pulled down by vandals. To combat asset destruction, Tegbe disclosed that the Federal Government has established a joint security task force comprising the EFCC, Nigeria Police Force, and NSCDC to monitor power installations nationwide.
“Some of the infrastructure we have in the electricity and power sector are more than 40 years old. We’re systematically replacing them, phasing them out and bringing new ones. You will not believe how many towers get pulled down by vandals. Government may not be in the business of making profit, but it must always be in the business of making progress.”
The minister’s comments drew immediate pushback from opposition figures and civil society groups. Critics, including spokespersons from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s camp, faulted the minister’s remarks as disconnected from the reality of millions of Nigerians facing steep electricity tariffs and erratic supply across various service bands. Will the Ministry of Power’s ongoing infrastructure overhauls and renewable energy additions translate into consistent grid stability nationwide?
