Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe says some Nigerians have asked him to “slow down” with efforts to improve electricity supply because their freezers are now working continuously. Power Minister Nigerians tell me to slow down.
Tegbe made the remark on Wednesday in Abuja while speaking at the commissioning of a 3-megawatt solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly known as the University of Abuja.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe speaking during the commissioning of the solar hybrid project at Yakubu Gowon University.
“That is what freezer is meant to do. Let it freeze the food that needs to be frozen,” the minister said.
Tegbe Promised Improved Electricity Supply
Tegbe said he had promised during his Senate screening that Nigerians would begin to notice improvements in electricity supply within three to six months.
“We’re systematically replacing them, phasing them out and bringing new ones,” he said.
The comments come as the Federal Government continues to pursue investments in generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure alongside renewable-energy projects.
Power Minister Raises Alarm Over Electricity Tower Vandalism
Tegbe said the Federal Government had established a joint working committee involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The committee is expected to help monitor and protect critical national electricity assets.
The minister also said the government was working to ensure that vandalism of critical electricity infrastructure was treated as a serious criminal offence.
Transmission and distribution infrastructure remains particularly important because damage to major towers and other equipment can disrupt electricity supply to large areas.
3MW Solar Hybrid Project Commissioned at Yakubu Gowon University
The project is designed to supply electricity to important university facilities, including lecture halls, laboratories, ICT facilities, administrative buildings and campus lighting.
The intervention forms part of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA)‘s Energizing Education Programme, which focuses on improving electricity access in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The minister also said the project created 3,201 jobs during its implementation.
According to him, the battery storage system can be expanded in the future to extend electricity supply to additional parts of the institution, including student hostels.
Solar panels form part of the hybrid power system installed at Yakubu Gowon University.
Areas highlighted include renewable energy, battery storage, smart metering, energy management, grid integration and cybersecurity.
This could provide students and researchers with an opportunity to study practical applications of renewable energy and modern electricity systems within a university environment.
REA Says Project Goes Beyond Electricity Generation
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, described the project as an important milestone under the Energizing Education Programme.
Aliyu said the value of such projects should not be measured only by the amount of electricity generated but also by their impact on education, research and students.
He said reliable electricity would help laboratories operate more effectively, improve digital services and reduce pressure on university operating costs.
Aliyu also encouraged the institution to use the infrastructure to support research into distributed energy resources and develop solutions suitable for Nigeria’s energy challenges.
Head of the Nigeria Electrification Project, Olufemi Akinyelure, said the broader importance of the project lies in the opportunities created when educational institutions have dependable electricity.
He said investment in university power infrastructure could support learning, innovation and research.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, also commended the Federal Government and the minister for the implementation of the Energizing Education Programme.
Abaribe said reliable electricity was fundamental to the development of Nigeria’s education system, while also stressing the importance of community participation in protecting public infrastructure.
The Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi, said dependable electricity was essential to the institution’s academic activities.
He noted that modern universities require reliable electricity to operate laboratories, support research, deliver digital services and provide effective teaching.
Fawehinmi thanked the Federal Government and the Rural Electrification Agency for the intervention and called for continued cooperation to ensure the project remains operational.
Nigeria’s Power Sector Still Faces Major Challenges
While the minister highlighted improvements in electricity supply in some areas, the government also continues to face challenges involving ageing infrastructure, vandalism and the need for additional investment.
The commissioning of the Yakubu Gowon University project demonstrates one approach being used to provide more reliable electricity to critical institutions through a combination of solar generation and battery storage.
At the same time, the minister’s comments about older infrastructure and vandalised transmission towers underline the wider challenges involved in improving electricity reliability across Nigeria.
Key Points
Power Minister Joseph Tegbe says some Nigerians have asked him to “slow down” after improvements in electricity supply.
He said some areas that previously experienced prolonged outages were now receiving up to 18 hours of electricity supply.
Tegbe said some power infrastructure in Nigeria is more than 40 years old.
He disclosed that three transmission towers in Birnin Kebbi had been brought down by vandals.
A 3.3MW solar array with 3MW AC output and battery storage has been commissioned at Yakubu Gowon University.
More than 58,726 students are expected to benefit from the project.
The project includes 6,078 photovoltaic panels and 388 streetlights.
The intervention is part of the Rural Electrification Agency’s Energizing Education Programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Nigerian Power Minister say about freezers?
Joseph Tegbe said some Nigerians had jokingly asked him to slow down with improvements in electricity supply because their freezers were now working continuously.
How many hours of electricity did the minister say some areas were receiving?
Tegbe said some areas that previously experienced prolonged outages were now receiving as much as 18 hours of electricity supply.
What is the Yakubu Gowon University solar project?
It is a solar hybrid power project featuring a 3.3MW solar array, 3MW AC output capacity and battery storage to supply critical facilities at the university.
How many students are expected to benefit?
The minister said more than 58,726 students are expected to benefit from the project.
The Energizing Education Programme is an initiative implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency to improve electricity access and reliability in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
What did the minister say about electricity infrastructure vandalism?
Tegbe said three major transmission towers in Birnin Kebbi had been brought down by vandals and said the government was working with security and anti-corruption agencies to protect critical electricity assets.
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