DG NCSP, Mr. Joseph Tegbe
Abayomi Susan
Calls for Shared Accountability, Transparency, and Protection of Critical Power Infrastructure
The Honourable Minister of Power, Mr. Joseph Tegbe, has unveiled a comprehensive Ministerial Action Plan aimed at stabilising and transforming Nigeria’s electricity sector, emphasising the need for collective responsibility, transparency, and stronger protection of critical power infrastructure.
Tegbe presented the roadmap while delivering the keynote address at the Second Quarter 2026 Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) Stakeholders’ Meeting, convened by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja.
The meeting, chaired by the Chairman of NERC, Dr. Musiliu Oseni, brought together key stakeholders across the power value chain, including operators, regulators, policymakers, and industry experts. Also in attendance were the Special Adviser to the President on Power, Mr. Rilwan Lanre Babalola, and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Alhaji Mahmud Mamman.
Outlining his vision for the sector, the Minister stressed that resolving Nigeria’s electricity challenges requires coordinated action and shared accountability from all stakeholders.
“Nigeria’s power crisis was not built by one hand, and it will not be fixed by one hand,” Tegbe said, urging Generation Companies (GenCos), Distribution Companies (DisCos), the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), regulators, and government institutions to collectively own both the challenges and the solutions needed to reposition the sector.
On infrastructure protection, the Minister called for power installations to be formally designated as Critical National Assets, describing vandalism, grid sabotage, and energy theft as direct threats to Nigeria’s economy and the welfare of its citizens.
He noted that efforts to safeguard existing infrastructure are being implemented alongside measures to optimise operational efficiency, including addressing transmission bottlenecks, strengthening spinning reserves, and upgrading priority substation protection systems to improve grid stability and reliability.
Addressing the issue of metering and electricity tariffs, Tegbe observed that estimated billing has unfairly burdened consumers while concealing systemic inefficiencies within the sector.
He disclosed that the Ministry is working closely with industry stakeholders to accelerate nationwide meter deployment, reduce Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses, and develop a sustainable tariff transition framework that protects vulnerable consumers while providing the certainty required to attract long-term private sector investment.
The Minister also underscored the importance of transparency and accountability in market governance, noting that tariff reforms can only succeed where payment discipline is consistently enforced.
He advocated greater transparency in the computation of Derived Remittance Obligations (DRO), insisting that confidence in the electricity market must be built on credible and verifiable data.
“Trust in the market begins with trust in the numbers,” he stated.
Tegbe further revealed that the Ministry is developing a framework for the periodic publication of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and performance scorecards for Generation and Distribution Companies, a move aimed at promoting transparency, rewarding excellence, and holding underperforming operators accountable.
Concluding his address, the Minister reaffirmed his commitment to driving reforms anchored on three core principles—transparency, speed, and accountability.
He pledged to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, ensure openness in decision-making, and enforce consequences for actions that undermine the performance and sustainability of the electricity sector.
“Reform is not a promise deferred,” Tegbe declared. “It is a discipline being executed every day.”
The Second Quarter 2026 NESI Stakeholders’ Meeting was convened by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja on Monday, June 29, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration, address industry challenges, and accelerate reforms across Nigeria’s power sector.
