“Some Nigerians Asked Me To Slow Down” – Power Minister Says Areas Without Light For Months Now Get 18 Hours

• Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe has revealed that some Nigerians asked him to “slow down” efforts to improve electricity supply because their freezers were now running continuously.
• He said some areas that previously went for months without electricity were now receiving up to 18 hours of supply.

Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has revealed that some Nigerians asked him to “slow down” efforts to improve electricity supply because their freezers were now working continuously.

Tegbe made the comment on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in Abuja while speaking at the commissioning of a 3-megawatt solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja.

According to the minister, some areas that previously went for months without electricity were now receiving up to 18 hours of power.

“Places that didn’t have light at all for three months are now having 18 hours light. Some areas called me to say, look, I should slow down, that everything in their freezer is freezing. That is what freezer is meant to do. Let it freeze the food that needs to be frozen,” he said.

Tegbe recalled that during his Senate screening, he had promised Nigerians that they would begin to notice improvements in electricity supply within three to six months.

He, however, acknowledged the challenges still facing the power sector, noting that some electricity infrastructure across the country is more than 40 years old. He said the government was systematically replacing and phasing out the ageing facilities.

The minister also raised concerns about vandalism of electricity infrastructure, disclosing that three major transmission towers in Birnin Kebbi had been brought down by vandals. He said the Federal Government had established a joint committee involving the EFCC, police and NSCDC to help protect critical power infrastructure.