Power Sector Faces Challenges Across Whole Value Chain, Says Minister Tegbe Amid Ongoing Reforms
Power Minister Joseph Tegbe has said Nigeria’s electricity sector is facing serious challenges across the entire value chain, adding that the Federal Government is working to address debts, infrastructure gaps, metering problems and weak revenue collection nationwide effectively.
According to a report by Punch Newspaper on Monday, September 21, 2026, while speaking at a media parley in Abuja, Tegbe said the government was focused on improving supply and strengthening the sector’s financial foundations for consumers directly.
Tegbe said his first 100 days in office, covering June 8 to September 16, focused on diagnosing problems, stabilising existing infrastructure and restoring market discipline, rather than concentrating only on new electricity generation projects across the country overall.
He explained that damaged gas pipelines, commercial conditions, ageing generation equipment, deferred maintenance and stalled projects were limiting available capacity, while generation companies received only 27 per cent of their bills, weakening their ability to maintain plants properly.
The minister said transmission infrastructure was affected by vandalised towers and lines, overstretched equipment and frequent system trips, while distribution companies recorded technical, commercial and collection losses between 30 and 40 per cent nationwide during the period there.
Tegbe said the government had restored the 375MW Alaoji plant, unlocked transmission capacity through transformers in Lagos and Abuja, recorded generation above 5,000MW recently, and also raised N1.23tn towards the sector’s N3.3tn debt backlog during the period successfully.
He said about 350,000 meters were installed during the first 100 days, while the next phase would target key transmission corridors, a Transmission Super Grid, improved reliability, billing accuracy and faster resolution of electricity faults and complaints nationwide.
COURTESY: Resourcefulnews11
