Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, says some electricity consumers have jokingly asked him to “slow down” efforts to improve power supply because their freezers are now working continuously.
Tegbe made the remark on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in Abuja, while speaking at the commissioning of a 3-megawatt solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja. Multiple reports of the event carried the same remarks.
According to the minister, consumers in some areas have reported significant improvements in electricity supply.
“Places that didn’t have light at all for three months are now having 18 hours light. Some areas called me to say, look, I should slow down, that everything in their freezer is freezing.”
Tegbe responded jokingly: “That is what freezer is meant to do. Let it freeze the food that needs to be frozen.”
Minister cites three-to-six-month improvement target
Tegbe recalled that during his Senate screening, he promised that Nigerians would begin to notice improvements in electricity supply within three to six months.
He, however, acknowledged that the sector continues to face major infrastructure challenges, noting that some electricity infrastructure across the country is more than 40 years old.
“We’re systematically replacing them, phasing them out and bringing new ones,” he said.
Three transmission towers vandalised in Birnin Kebbi
The minister also raised concerns over the vandalism of electricity infrastructure.
According to Tegbe, three major transmission towers in Birnin Kebbi were recently brought down by vandals. He said the towers were part of infrastructure supplying electricity to Kebbi State and extending towards Niger Republic.
He said the attackers targeted the foundations of the towers before bringing them down and cutting parts of the structures for sale as scrap.
Tegbe disclosed that the government had established a joint working committee involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to monitor and protect critical national electricity assets.
3MW solar project commissioned at Yakubu Gowon University
The minister’s remarks came as the Federal Government commissioned a hybrid solar power project at Yakubu Gowon University.
According to project details, the facility comprises a 3.3-megawatt solar array, 3MW AC output capacity and 2MWh of battery storage. It is designed to provide power to critical facilities including lecture halls, laboratories, ICT centres, administrative buildings and campus lighting.
Tegbe said the project is expected to benefit more than 58,700 students and includes 6,078 photovoltaic panels and 388 streetlights. He also said the battery storage capacity could be expanded to extend electricity supply to additional parts of the university, including student hostels.
The project was implemented under Phase II of the Federal Government’s Energising Education Programme.
While the minister’s “freezers are freezing” comment was made in a light-hearted context, it reflects his broader claim that electricity supply has improved in some parts of the country. The extent and consistency of those improvements, however, remain dependent on the performance of Nigeria’s generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure.