Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has warned the newly confirmed Minister of Power, Mr. Joseph Tegbe, to brace for opposition from what he described as the “generator cabal” if he succeeds in improving electricity supply across Nigeria.
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Tegbe as Minister of Power alongside Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, who was cleared as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Their confirmation followed a screening exercise during plenary as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle aimed at strengthening governance in key sectors.
During the screening session, Abaribe urged Tegbe to confront powerful interests allegedly benefitting from Nigeria’s long-standing electricity crisis. According to him, the country’s massive generator market has flourished because of unstable power supply, and any serious reforms could trigger resistance from those profiting from the situation.
He noted that generator importers and dealers have built a thriving business around the nation’s unreliable electricity system, warning the incoming minister not to underestimate the influence of the group.
Abaribe also criticised electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), accusing many of failing to fulfill their contractual responsibilities, especially in expanding infrastructure and improving service delivery. He lamented that several communities, including his own hometown, still lack basic power infrastructure such as transformers despite repeated complaints to distribution companies.
The Senator stressed the need for the new minister to ensure that distribution companies comply with the terms of their agreements by investing in network expansion and improving electricity access for Nigerians.
He further referenced the recently amended Electricity Act 2025, signed into law by President Tinubu earlier this year, which grants states greater authority to generate, transmit, distribute, and regulate electricity within their territories. According to Abaribe, the development could create friction between Federal and State Governments over electricity assets and investments if not properly managed.
Abaribe therefore advised Tegbe to develop a collaborative framework that would encourage synergy between Federal and State authorities in implementing the new power law.
Other Lawmakers also raised concerns about deep-rooted inefficiencies in the power sector. Former Minister of State for Power, Senator Danjuma Goje, warned that some individuals within the system benefit financially from repeated grid collapses through maintenance contracts and emergency repairs. He cautioned the incoming Minister to scrutinize maintenance expenditures and avoid sustaining what he described as a “failure economy” in the sector.
Responding to the concerns, Tegbe acknowledged the challenges facing the electricity sector and pledged to work with stakeholders across the value chain to address systemic problems and improve power supply nationwide.