The minister-designate said the first phase of his 100-day plan would focus on stabilising the national grid before rolling out another phase of metering to reduce estimated billing across the country.
The Nigeria’s minister-designate for power, Joseph Tegbe, has boasted that he will tackle the recurring national grid collapse if confirmed and sworn in as substantive minister and will try to fix the grid collapse in his first 100 days in office.
Penpushing reports that Tegbe made the pledge on Wednesday while responding to questions from senators during his screening at the Senate chamber, explaining that the first phase of his 100-day plan would focus on stabilising the national grid before rolling out another phase of metering to reduce estimated billing across the country.
“The first phase in the 100 days is to stabilise that grid. There are questions around grid collapse and then need to roll out metering. Last year we rolled out 1 million meters across the country; it is never done before,” he said.
Penpushing further reports that Tegbe added that aside from stabilising the grid, he would enforce stricter discipline in the sector and implement reforms that would improve the power industry.
“We need to stabilise the grid. There is a short term that we need to quickly do. We need to enforce strict code against indiscipline and ensure a tax system across. We need to also improve reserve in our grid. They have done it in other places so we just need discipline to do it,” he added.
Penpushing also reports that he urged lawmakers to reassure their constituents that Nigeria’s power sector would improve significantly under his leadership, which he stated will have a disciplined approach
“We’re going to come to you with difficult decisions. Your constituency will come to you, please tell them to bear with us that we saw the pain but we’ll get there because we’re going to have a disciplined approach’, he said.
The minister-designate said he would present his work plan to lawmakers within three months of his confirmation and inauguration, as he equally asked lawmakers to hold him accountable if he fails to deliver on his promises.
“We’ll come and present to you what our plan is with clear milestones. If you don’t see these in three months, it means you won’t see it in six months, so you must see the three months and you must hold us accountable for it. Or if we don’t put it together in the next one or two weeks, we’ll come to you and present the milestones. So, we’ll put a stop to that leakages and challenges in the power sector’
Penpushing reports that Tegbe on challenges in power generation, told lawmakers that Nigeria currently has an estimated N6 trillion debt in the power sector, and attributed much of the debt burden to the inability of power generation companies (GenCos) to adequately pay for gas supply due to market shortfalls.
“Gencos cannot even pay adequately for their gas supply because of their shortfalls. Today, we have an estimated of N6 trillion debt in the sector. Government has done very well. A lot of work has been done; we even settled 3.3 trillion through bonds. The movement in the industry is struggling It’s a lot of pressure’.
“Mr President assigned me because he wants us to sleep for the next five years. My promise to Nigeria and to this hallowed chamber is that Nigerians will see significant improvement in this sector. We’ll continue to consult the people in the next one or two weeks. We have obtained documents and reports but we need to make sure that those things are pragmatic and practical.”
Penpushing further reports that Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio in his remarks warned the minister-designate to be wary of entrenched interests in the power sector.
“When they’re having meeting in the ministry of power and they take light, the minister will become agitated and worried and then, the engineers will be relaxed taking tea because they know more jobs are coming’, Akpabio said.
‘That they’re likely to be deployed to go and take care of the repairs. So which means that you’re going to find elements there, who have been entrenched, who are not interested in power moving’, he added
“You also mentioned cabal in the generator sector in Nigeria. Those who are importing generating sets, that cabal does not want power to work in Nigeria because they want to keep bringing generators into the country. Those are some of the things you’ll look at outside the issues of finance, outside administrative issues and all that’.
Penpushing also reports that after Tegbe responded to questions from lawmakers, the senate president put his confirmation to a vote, and the majority of senators supported it by voice vote, and was subsequently confirmed, while he is expected to be sworn into office in the next few days by President Tinubu.
The President it would be recalled appointed Tegbe on May 6,2026 following the resignation of the former minister, Adebayo Adelabu, who left to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
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