Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has apologised to Nigerians over recent electricity outages, particularly in Lagos and other affected states, assuring residents that the Federal Government is implementing measures to restore and stabilise power supply.
Tegbe acknowledged the frustration caused by unreliable electricity and said President Bola Tinubu shared Nigerians’ concerns about the persistent disruptions.
Speaking during an interview on TVC’s The Morning Brief, the minister explained that the recent electricity shortages were caused by planned maintenance at the Egbin Power Plant and the vandalism of a major transmission line supplying Lagos.
He maintained that the incident was not a national grid collapse but a reduction in available electricity caused by disruptions to generation and transmission infrastructure.
Why Are Lagos and Other States Experiencing Power Outages?
According to Tegbe, the recent electricity disruption was partly caused by maintenance activities at the Egbin Power Plant, which resulted in the loss of nearly 800 megawatts of electricity.
The situation was compounded by the vandalism of a 330-kilovolt transmission line supplying the Lagos electricity complex with between 300 and 400 megawatts.
The combined reduction in available electricity forced authorities to introduce load shedding across Lagos, Ogun and parts of Kwara State.
The minister said he immediately began addressing the situation after receiving reports of the disruption.
“Nigerians deserve to have electricity. It is not a big deal, and it is not rocket science,” he said.
Egbin Power Plant Resumes Operations as Lagos Supply Improves
Tegbe said the government had made progress towards restoring electricity after previously promising that the disruption would be resolved within 48 to 72 hours.
According to him, the Lagos electricity complex was receiving approximately 1,000 megawatts as of Sunday night and Monday morning.
He also confirmed that Egbin Power Plant’s ST1 turbine had returned to operation.
The minister added that another turbine, ST3, was expected to resume operations later on Monday, potentially contributing an additional 150 megawatts to electricity supply in the Lagos complex.
However, he acknowledged that damaged transmission infrastructure continued to limit the amount of electricity that could be distributed to consumers.
Vandalised Transmission Lines Threaten Electricity Stability
The minister identified ageing infrastructure and inadequate alternative transmission routes as major weaknesses in Nigeria’s electricity network.
He disclosed that only three transmission lines supplying Lagos were operational, while another had remained out of service for more than 18 months.
The affected line runs from Oshogbo to Ikeja West through Oshodi and is expected to deliver an additional 400 megawatts to Lagos when restored.
However, approximately six transmission towers along the route have been vandalised, making repairs difficult.
Tegbe explained that the affected location is surrounded by swampy terrain, complicating access for repair teams.
Despite these challenges, he expressed confidence that the transmission line would be restored by the end of November.
He said completing the repairs would strengthen electricity supply across the Lagos-Ogun corridor and reduce pressure on the existing transmission network.
Gas Supply and N3.3 Trillion Debt Affect Electricity Generation
Beyond transmission challenges, Tegbe identified financial difficulties and gas supply constraints as major obstacles affecting electricity generation across Nigeria.
He explained that although the country has sufficient natural gas resources, problems within the gas supply chain have prevented power generation companies from accessing adequate supplies.
One major challenge, according to the minister, is the inability of electricity generation companies to settle payments for gas supplied to their facilities because of outstanding debts.
Tegbe disclosed that the Federal Government had reduced outstanding liabilities in the electricity sector to N3.3 trillion, following payments of N1.23 trillion over recent months.
He said approximately N2 trillion remained outstanding and that the government planned to settle the balance next year.
The minister expressed confidence that clearing the debts would improve the financial position of generation companies, enabling them to purchase gas and increase electricity production.
He also acknowledged that some power plants were ageing and said the government was working towards replacing them with newer facilities.
Government Establishes Task Force Against Electricity Infrastructure Vandalism
In response to the growing destruction of electricity infrastructure, the government has established a special task force to tackle vandalism across the country.
Tegbe said the task force comprises the Ministry of Power, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Homeland Security and the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to him, authorities have mapped locations affected by infrastructure vandalism and discovered that several overlap with areas identified as hotspots for kidnapping and banditry.
The government plans to deploy newly acquired helicopters and drones to monitor vulnerable electricity installations and support rapid-response operations against suspected vandals.
The minister also called for stronger legal provisions to ensure that individuals involved in destroying electricity infrastructure face appropriate prosecution.
He explained that suspected offenders are currently prosecuted in magistrate courts, a process he believes can delay justice.
Consequently, the government is proposing amendments to the relevant legislation to strengthen enforcement and improve the prosecution of offenders.
Government Targets Three to Five Years for Electricity Improvements
While acknowledging that Nigeria’s electricity challenges cannot be resolved immediately, Tegbe said Nigerians should begin experiencing the impact of government interventions within three to five years.
The minister, who said he assumed office in June, noted that the power sector faces challenges across generation, transmission and distribution.
He maintained that addressing the crisis requires sustained investment in infrastructure, additional generation capacity and improvements across the electricity value chain.
According to him, the government is adopting different strategies to address electricity shortages in urban and rural communities.
Solar Mini-Grids to Provide Electricity to Rural Communities
Tegbe cited Talase in Gombe State, which he said had remained without electricity for 17 years, as an example of communities requiring alternative power solutions.
He explained that extending the national transmission network to some remote settlements could be financially impractical.
Instead, the government is pursuing solar mini-grid projects to provide electricity to communities that cannot easily be connected to the conventional grid.
The minister said some of the projects involve solar mini-grids with capacities ranging from 17 to 20 megawatts, with certain communities already enjoying round-the-clock electricity.
He added that strengthening the national grid would remain a priority for major urban centres such as Lagos, while renewable energy solutions would support electricity access in underserved rural areas.
Minister Reassures Nigerians Over Electricity Supply
Tegbe reiterated his apology to Nigerians over the recent electricity disruptions, acknowledging the difficulties households and businesses face because of unreliable power supply.
He said the government remained committed to addressing the country’s electricity challenges through infrastructure repairs, improved generation, debt settlement and stronger security measures.
Although the minister expressed confidence in the ongoing interventions, he acknowledged that achieving stable electricity nationwide would require sustained investment and time.
For millions of Nigerians affected by frequent outages, the immediate concern remains whether the government’s promised improvements will translate into more reliable electricity.
