Power Minister Joseph Tegbe once claimed that Nigerians were asking him to slow down electricity improvements because their freezers were freezing. Less than two months later, he is apologising over persistent power outages and promising better supply.
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has apologised to Nigerians over persistent electricity outages.
His apology comes after he publicly celebrated improvements in power supply and claimed that some residents were asking him to slow down.
The minister made the earlier remarks in September. At the time, he said some communities that previously went months without electricity were now enjoying up to 18 hours of daily supply.
However, electricity consumers continue to face outages, with recent disruptions affecting Lagos and other states.
During an interview on TVC’s The Morning Brief on November 9, Tegbe acknowledged the difficulties and apologised to affected Nigerians.
When Tegbe said Nigerians wanted him to slow down
On September 16, 2026, Tegbe spoke at the commissioning of a 3-megawatt solar hybrid project at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja.
He used the occasion to highlight improvements in electricity supply across some communities.
According to him, some areas that previously experienced months without power were now receiving up to 18 hours of electricity daily.
He also claimed that some residents had contacted him to complain about their freezers working continuously.
“Some areas called me to say, look, I should slow down, that everything in their freezer is freezing,” he said.
Tegbe presented the feedback as evidence of progress under the government’s electricity interventions.
However, his account did not establish how many communities enjoyed the reported improvement. Neither did it show that most Nigerian households had experienced similar changes.
His remarks attracted attention because many electricity consumers continued to complain about inadequate supply.
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Power minister apologises over recent outages
In his November 9 interview, Tegbe acknowledged the frustration caused by recent electricity disruptions.
He attributed the outages to maintenance at Egbin Power Plant and the vandalism of a major transmission line supplying Lagos.
According to him, the maintenance work at Egbin removed nearly 800 megawatts from the national supply.
The damaged 330-kilovolt transmission line also affected electricity delivery to the Lagos electricity network.
These disruptions forced authorities to introduce load shedding across Lagos, Ogun and parts of Kwara State.
Tegbe clarified that the incident did not amount to a national grid collapse. Instead, the problems reduced the electricity available for distribution.
He said engineers had restored one of Egbin’s generating units. Another unit was also expected to return and contribute an additional 150MW.
The minister further disclosed that only three transmission lines supplying Lagos were operational. Another line had remained out of service for more than 18 months.
In its report on the minister’s apology, Premium Times detailed his explanation and promises to improve supply.
Read also: Lagos Communities to Experience Four-Month Electricity Disruption as TCN Lists Affected Areas
Ageing infrastructure and power-sector debts remain challenges
Tegbe also acknowledged deeper problems within Nigeria’s electricity sector.
He identified ageing infrastructure, gas shortages and outstanding debts as major obstacles to reliable supply.
Some electricity facilities, he said, had operated for between 40 and 50 years. The government plans to replace ageing equipment and strengthen the transmission network.
The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government had reduced outstanding electricity-sector debts by ₦1.23 trillion. About ₦2 trillion remained unpaid.
To address infrastructure vandalism, the government has established a task force involving the Ministry of Power, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Nigerian Independent System Operator and security agencies.
The team will monitor vulnerable electricity installations and respond to attacks on transmission infrastructure.
Read also: Nigeria’s Power Crisis Has a ₦2tn Subsidy Problem
Tegbe gives Nigerians three to five years for stable electricity
Despite his apology, the minister said Nigeria would need more time to achieve reliable electricity supply.
He projected that Nigerians could begin experiencing more stable power within three to five years.
Tegbe also announced plans for a $2 billion East-West Super Grid project. The proposed project aims to strengthen transmission infrastructure and raise its capacity to 19,000 megawatts.
The government also plans to expand solar mini-grids in communities that cannot easily connect to the national network.
However, these projects will require funding and effective implementation before consumers can enjoy their benefits.
For households and businesses, the immediate concern remains the same: getting electricity without depending heavily on generators, inverters and other expensive alternatives.
Tegbe’s September remarks painted a picture of improving electricity supply in some communities. His November apology, however, shows that major challenges remain.
The three-to-five-year timeline now gives Nigerians another period to watch for measurable improvements in the power sector.