The newly sworn-in Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, yesterday said Nigerians should not expect immediate round-the-clock electricity, but assured them that power supply would continue to improve as the Federal Government addresses challenges in generation, transmission and distribution.
Speaking with State House correspondents shortly after taking the oath of office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tegbe expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing him as Minister of Power and acknowledged that the sector faced numerous challenges.
“This is a sector that we all know has a couple of challenges and a lot of efforts is being put into this sector by this current administration. People might not appreciate it but very soon people will appreciate it,” he said.
According to him, President Tinubu has invested significantly in the sector in recent years and efforts are underway to ensure Nigerians receive improved electricity services.
Tegbe reiterated that he was not promising instant solutions to the country’s power problems.
“I said it during my Senate confirmation that I am not promising a magic wand. I am not promising 24 hours, seven days in a week power.
We will get there ultimately.
“But what I promise Nigerians is that we will see visible improvements,” he said.
The minister said feedback he had received suggested that electricity supply had improved across parts of the country in recent weeks, attributing the development to the push by President Tinubu and the commitment of officials in the Ministry of Power and its agencies.
He disclosed that over the past four weeks, he had engaged key stakeholders in the sector, including the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and other institutions.
“For the last four weeks after my confirmation I have engaged various key stakeholders in the sector. TCN, Ministry of Power, REA, NERC, everybody and they have given commitments and that is what you are seeing today with the improvements,” he said.
Tegbe appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the administration, saying President Tinubu understood the challenges facing the power sector and was committed to addressing them.
“Nigerians should please bear with us. The President understands the challenges. We are addressing those challenges and we will make sure we fix it both in generation, transmission and distribution,” he said.
He cited the restoration of a feeder station in Katampe by TCN personnel within 24 hours after it went down as an example of the commitment of workers in the sector.
Tegbe also said the Niger Delta Power Holding Company had recently resumed operations after being inactive for three years, describing the development as part of the efforts being made by sector operators.
“If you see some things that some of the people in the sector have done in the last couple of weeks it will marvel you that it is coming out of our people,” he said.
Calling for public support and prayers, the minister expressed confidence that the challenges confronting the sector would be overcome.
“You are going to see more of that, but I am calling on Nigerians to support PBAT and also pray for us. Whatever challenges that this sector is plagued with, by God’s grace we will overcome it and we will get there.
“Very soon Nigeria will be lit up by God’s grace,” Tegbe added.
