Minister Tegbe Addresses Nigeria's Power Sector Challenges

Joseph Tegbe, the Minister of Power, announced that Nigeria's electricity sector is facing constraints across the entire value chain, impacting power supply and increasing burdens on citizens. During a media parley in Abuja marking his first 100 days in office from June 8 to September 16, Tegbe ruled out any increase in electricity tariffs, emphasizing the government's commitment to improving supply and addressing foundational issues rather than imposing additional costs on consumers.

He identified interconnected problems, including long-standing debts, revenue leakages, metering gaps, and infrastructure constraints. Tegbe noted that gas supply to power plants is hindered by damaged pipelines and discouraging commercial conditions, while ageing equipment and stalled projects limit capacity.

He highlighted that generation companies receive only 27 percent of their bills, affecting their ability to maintain operations. Additionally, he pointed out that transmission infrastructure suffers from vandalism and that distribution companies face significant losses due to inadequate metering and weak payment discipline.