Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe has said electricity supply has improved in some parts of Nigeria, with certain communities that previously experienced prolonged outages now receiving up to 18 hours of power daily.
Tegbe disclosed this on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, during the commissioning of a 3-megawatt solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly known as the University of Abuja.
The minister said he had received feedback from electricity consumers following the improvement, including humorous complaints from some residents who said their freezers were now working continuously.
According to Tegbe, some areas that had gone without electricity for as long as three months were now receiving significantly longer hours of supply.
He recalled that during his Senate screening, he had promised Nigerians that noticeable improvements in electricity supply would begin within three to six months of his appointment.
Ageing infrastructure remains a challenge
Despite the reported improvements, Tegbe acknowledged that significant challenges remain within the power sector.
He said some of Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure was more than 40 years old and that the Federal Government was gradually replacing ageing equipment with newer systems.
The minister also raised concerns about the continued vandalism of power infrastructure, revealing that three major transmission towers in Birnin Kebbi had recently been brought down.
According to him, the towers formed part of the infrastructure supplying electricity to Kebbi State and extending towards Niger Republic. He said the vandals attacked the foundations before bringing down the structures and cutting sections of them for sale as scrap.
Tegbe said the Federal Government had established a joint working committee involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to protect electricity infrastructure and tackle vandalism.
Solar project to support university
The minister also highlighted the newly commissioned solar project at Yakubu Gowon University.
The facility consists of a 3.3-megawatt solar array, 3MW AC output capacity and battery storage. It is expected to provide more reliable electricity for lecture halls, laboratories, ICT facilities, administrative buildings and campus lighting.
More than 58,726 students are expected to benefit from the project, which includes 6,078 photovoltaic panels and 388 streetlights across the university campus.
Tegbe said the project would also reduce the university’s reliance on diesel generators while creating opportunities for research into renewable energy, battery storage, smart metering and other emerging energy technologies.
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, said the project should be judged not only by the electricity it generates but also by its impact on teaching, research, digital services and the wider learning environment.
The Federal Government has also announced plans for a national electricity call centre where consumers will be able to report power-related complaints and seek assistance in resolving them.
