Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe has acknowledged that many Nigerians are still without reliable electricity despite ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to improve power supply across the country.

Tegbe made the statement in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, saying he understood the frustration of Nigerians who had yet to feel the impact of reported improvements in the power sector since he assumed office three months ago.

According to the minister, much of the government’s focus during the period had been on identifying and addressing longstanding challenges affecting the sector.

He cited the restoration of the 375-megawatt Alaoji power plant, which had reportedly remained offline for three years, as one of the interventions undertaken.

“We spent much of this period on diagnosis and repair; restoring the 375MW Alaoji plant after three years offline, unlocking transmission capacity in Lagos, Abuja and other places, mobilising funds toward a debt burden that has quietly undermined this sector for years,” he said.

Tegbe also said the government had deployed more than 350,000 electricity meters following the resolution of what he described as a legal dispute involving the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors and manufacturers.

However, the minister acknowledged that the measures had not yet translated into reliable electricity for many Nigerians.

“Admittedly, many Nigerians are still without reliable power, and I understand the frustration of hearing about progress you haven’t personally felt yet. I’m not going to pretend that away,” he said.

Tegbe said reforming the power sector would require sustained efforts and time, adding that he would not make promises of quick solutions that could prove unsustainable.

The minister also said there was no plan to increase electricity tariffs, stressing that the position was not politically motivated.

“To be clear: there’s no plan to raise tariffs, and this is no political statement,” he said.

He reaffirmed his commitment to improving grid stability, electricity supply reliability and billing accuracy, while ensuring that consumer complaints are resolved more quickly.

Tegbe also commended officials working in the power sector under difficult conditions and Nigerians who continue to engage the government over challenges affecting electricity supply.

“We’re not there yet, but we’re moving,” he said.