Tegbe Denies Promising to Fix Nigeria’s Power Grid in Three Months

Less than 24 hours after telling the Senate to hold him responsible if the national grid keeps collapsing, Nigeria’s new Power Minister Joseph Tegbe has clarified that he never actually promised to fix the grid in three months.

In a statement released on Friday, Tegbe said the media misrepresented what he said during his Senate screening. He did not give a three-month timeline for ending grid collapse. What he presented, he explained, was a 100-day reform plan covering measurable steps — not a guarantee of uninterrupted power supply.

“I want to clarify that I did not promise to fix the national grid within three months. What I stated during my screening was a 100-day action plan to initiate key reforms in the power sector,” Tegbe said in the statement.

No Promise of 24-Hour Power Either

Tegbe also ruled out promising Nigerians constant electricity. He said he would not make promises he cannot keep, but would work toward visible, measurable improvements in generation, transmission, and distribution.

This is a notable shift from the tone at his screening, where he told senators: “Hold me responsible if grid collapse continues.” That statement was widely reported as a bold accountability pledge. His clarification on Friday suggests he feels the coverage went further than he intended.

A Pattern Nigerians Know Well

Nigeria has watched power ministers come and go for decades, each arriving with fresh language about reform and leaving the grid much as they found it. Tegbe’s 100-day plan, whatever it actually contains, will now face the extra scrutiny that comes with a public clarification issued one day after confirmation.

The minister-designate has not been sworn in yet. His clock, whatever he says it measures, has not officially started.

Sources: Arise News, The Nigeria Lawyer, NaijaNews