Nigeria’s newly appointed Minister of Power, Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has said he will not make unrealistic promises of uninterrupted electricity supply but assured Nigerians that the power sector will experience measurable improvements within a short time.

Tegbe made the statement during his screening before the Senate, where he outlined his vision for tackling the country’s long-standing electricity challenges. I will not stand here and promise Nigerians 24 hours power, but there will be a measurable improvement in the sector in the shortest possible time,” he said.

The minister acknowledged that Nigeria’s electricity problems have persisted for decades and cannot be resolved overnight. However, he pledged to focus on practical reforms aimed at improving generation, transmission, and distribution across the country.

According to him, transparency, accountability, and performance monitoring will form the foundation of his administration in the power ministry. He added that Nigerians deserve to see steady progress rather than empty promises. Tegbe also identified the country’s metering gap, weak transmission infrastructure, and recurring grid collapses as key issues requiring urgent attention.

He said the Federal Government would work closely with stakeholders, including state governments and private investors, to strengthen the sector and improve electricity access nationwide. The new minister further stressed the need for discipline within the power value chain, noting that sustainable reforms would require collaboration between regulators, distribution companies, and generation firms.

His comments come amid growing public frustration over unstable electricity supply and rising energy costs across the country. Many Nigerians have continued to endure blackouts despite repeated government assurances of reforms in the sector.

Tegbe was recently appointed by President Bola Tinubu following the exit of former Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu. Analysts say his technocratic background and experience in governance and economic reforms could shape a new approach to addressing Nigeria’s power crisis.

The Senate is expected to complete the confirmation process for the ministerial nominee in the coming days.