…Power Minister Tegbe says government is auditing infrastructure and pursuing renewable energy solutions amid concerns over sector financing
The Federal Government has ruled out any immediate increase in electricity tariffs, dismissing reports of an impending upward review and reaffirming its focus on improving power supply across Nigeria.
Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during a media briefing to mark his first 100 days in office, covering the period from June 8 to September 16.
Tegbe said he had received several calls over the weekend following reports that the government was preparing to raise electricity tariffs.
He described the reports as politically motivated ahead of the 2027 general elections and said the administration’s priority was to improve the reliability and availability of electricity rather than impose additional costs on consumers.
Government targets power-sector gaps
According to the minister, the government is pursuing renewable energy solutions while undertaking a comprehensive audit of electricity infrastructure across the country.
The audit, he said, is intended to identify critical weaknesses across the power value chain and determine where interventions are required to improve sector performance.
Tegbe said the challenges facing Nigeria’s electricity market extend beyond generation capacity, with constraints affecting the transmission and distribution segments as well as other parts of the value chain.
He therefore argued that increasing generation alone would not resolve the country’s electricity problems unless the infrastructure required to transmit and distribute additional power is also strengthened.
Tariff debate amid sector funding concerns
The minister’s statement comes against the backdrop of continuing concerns over the financial sustainability of Nigeria’s electricity market and the government’s growing support for the sector.
The Federal Government has committed substantial resources to addressing legacy debts and other financial pressures across the electricity value chain, while policymakers continue to seek a framework capable of attracting private investment and improving the commercial viability of the market.
Tegbe said the government was focused on addressing the structural problems within the sector rather than relying on tariff increases as the primary solution.
The minister’s position is also likely to provide temporary clarity to electricity consumers and businesses following reports of a possible tariff review.
Nigeria’s electricity market has undergone several tariff adjustments in recent years, including the introduction of differentiated tariffs for customers based on service levels. The sustainability of those reforms remains closely linked to improvements in supply, metering, infrastructure and the financial health of power-sector operators.
For businesses and households, the key issue remains whether government interventions can translate into more reliable electricity while containing the cost of power and reducing dependence on expensive alternative sources of electricity.
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