Nigerian Power Minister Joseph Tegbe attributed recent nationwide electricity outages to a combination of aging infrastructure, transmission line vandalism, and financial constraints within the generation sector. Speaking in an interview with TVC News, Tegbe explained that while the country possesses sufficient gas reserves, the inability of generation companies to pay for fuel due to outstanding debts has significantly impacted supply. He noted that the federal government has reduced the sector's outstanding debt to 3.3 trillion naira, with the remaining 2 trillion naira scheduled for payment next year.
The minister identified specific technical disruptions as the immediate cause of the load shedding in Lagos, Ogun, and parts of Kwara State. These included planned maintenance at the Egbin Power Plant, which reduced available generation by nearly 800 megawatts, and the vandalism of a 330-kilovolt transmission line serving the Lagos complex. Tegbe stated that the repair of the Benin-Egbin transmission line has since restored power to parts of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, and the Federal Capital Territory. He also highlighted that only three transmission lines supplying Lagos are currently operational, with a fourth line out of service for over 18 months due to swampy terrain and tower vandalism.
Meanwhile, Sunday Oduntan, the managing director of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, criticized the conflicting narratives provided by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company and the Nigerian Independent System Operator. Oduntan argued that NNPC’s claim of no gas supply constraints omitted key information regarding payment issues, leading to a recurring pattern of blame among operators. He urged the minister to intervene and coordinate the various stakeholders, including gas suppliers, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, and NISO, to arrest the cycle of mutual accusations that has plagued the sector since 2016.
Tegbe acknowledged the public frustration, noting that he has served in the role for only five months and that full reform impacts would take three to five years to materialize. He pointed to the deployment of solar mini-grids in remote communities, such as Talase in Gombe State, as part of a broader strategy to improve access. The government has also established a task force involving security agencies to tackle vandalism and is considering legal amendments to expedite justice for those responsible for damaging critical installations.