Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe says some Nigerians have jokingly asked him to slow down efforts to improve electricity supply because their freezers are now working continuously.
Tegbe made the remark on Wednesday in Abuja during the commissioning of a 3-megawatt solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja.
According to the minister, some communities that previously went for months without electricity are now receiving up to 18 hours of supply.
“Some areas called me to say, look, I should slow down, that everything in their freezer is freezing,” Tegbe said, adding that freezing food was, of course, the purpose of having a freezer.
The minister recalled that during his Senate screening, he had promised that Nigerians would begin to notice improvements in electricity supply within three to six months.
He, however, acknowledged that significant challenges remain within the power sector, particularly the age and condition of existing infrastructure.
According to Tegbe, some electricity infrastructure across the country is more than 40 years old. He said the government was systematically replacing ageing facilities and introducing new infrastructure.
Vandalism threatens power infrastructure
Tegbe also raised concerns over the continued vandalism of electricity infrastructure across the country.
He disclosed that three major transmission towers in Birnin Kebbi had recently been brought down by vandals. The towers, he said, were part of infrastructure supplying electricity to Kebbi State and extending towards Niger Republic.
According to the minister, the vandals attacked the foundations of the towers before bringing them down and cutting parts of the structures for sale as scrap.
He said the Federal Government had established a joint committee involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps to strengthen the protection of critical electricity assets.
Tegbe added that the government was working towards ensuring that the destruction of critical power infrastructure was treated as a serious criminal offence.
58,726 students to benefit from solar project
Speaking on the newly commissioned project at Yakubu Gowon University, the minister said the facility combines a 3.3-megawatt solar array with 3MW AC output capacity and battery storage.
The project is designed to provide electricity to key university facilities, including lecture halls, laboratories, ICT centres, administrative buildings and campus lighting.
Tegbe said more than 58,726 students are expected to benefit from the project, which features 6,078 photovoltaic panels and 388 streetlights.
The project also created 3,201 jobs during its implementation, according to the minister.
He said the battery storage system could subsequently be expanded to supply additional parts of the university, including student hostels.
The minister further encouraged the institution to use the project as a platform for research into renewable energy, battery storage, smart metering, energy management, grid integration and cybersecurity.
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, described the project as an important milestone under the Energizing Education Programme.
He said the impact of the initiative should be measured not only by the amount of electricity generated but also by its contribution to teaching, research, digital services and the wider learning environment.
The development comes as the Federal Government continues efforts to improve electricity supply while addressing longstanding challenges involving ageing infrastructure, inadequate investment and vandalism of power assets.
