Senate Confirms Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Power Minister

On Wednesday, the Nigerian Senate confirmed Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the Minister of Power, emphasizing the urgent need to address the persistent collapse of the national electricity grid. The confirmation followed a rigorous screening process led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

During the session, Senator Moham Tahir Monguno from Borno North highlighted the severe challenges facing the power sector, which he described as a major impediment to Nigeria's industrial growth. Tegbe acknowledged the deep-rooted issues, including poor coordination and inadequate gas supply, and committed to enforcing strict operational discipline within the first 100 days of his tenure.

He promised visible improvements, including the introduction of a public performance dashboard for accountability. Tegbe also addressed concerns regarding the sector's financial model, admitting its unsustainability and pledging to implement market-reflective tariffs.

Senators raised concerns about the sector's N6 trillion liquidity crisis and the need for a clear timeline for achieving reliable electricity supply.