I was misrepresented, never promised to fix power grid in three months — Tegbe

Minister-designate for Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has dismissed reports claiming he promised to fix Nigeria’s power grid within three months, saying his comments during his Senate screening were misrepresented.

Tegbe, in a statement shared on X on Thursday through his spokesperson, Adeola Adelabu, said he never gave any three-month timeline for resolving the country’s electricity challenges.

“Our attention has been drawn to inaccurate media reports alleging that the Honourable Minister-designate, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, promised to fix Nigeria’s power grid within three months. This claim is a clear misrepresentation of his remarks,” the statement said.

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The statement noted that during his screening before the Senate on May 6, 2026, Tegbe explained that timelines for reforms in the power sector were still being developed and would depend on consultations and technical assessments.

It added that while immediate efforts to stabilise the national grid would commence within his first 100 days in office, wider reforms relating to sector credibility, gas supply and electricity metering could take about one year to achieve.

“My promise to this chamber is that Nigerians will see visible improvement in the sector,” Tegbe was quoted as saying during the screening.

The minister-designate also assured lawmakers of plans to stabilise the power grid, upgrade electricity infrastructure, strengthen commercial systems and enforce accountability across the power sector value chain.

On electricity tariffs, Tegbe reportedly said reforms would be implemented in a way that protects vulnerable Nigerians while ensuring sustainability and investor confidence in the sector.

He wrote, “On tariff reforms, he promised to protect vulnerable households while balancing sustainability, investor confidence, and broader sector efficiency.

“The Minister-Designate remains open to constructive media engagement and welcomes requests for clarification where necessary, recognising the role of the media as partners in nation-building, especially in fostering accurate public understanding of the imminent reforms in the power sector.”

Tribune Online reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated Tegbe for appointment as Minister of Power on April 30, following the exit of Adebayo Adelabu, who resigned his position to contest an elective office in Oyo State.