ABUJA - Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has revealed that some Nigerians have jokingly asked him to “slow down” following reported improvements in electricity supply in parts of the country.

Tegbe made the remark on Wednesday in Abuja while commissioning a 3-megawatt solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly known as the University of Abuja.

According to the minister, some areas that previously experienced prolonged power outages are now receiving up to 18 hours of electricity supply, prompting humorous reactions from consumers.

He said some Nigerians contacted him to complain that their freezers were now working continuously and freezing their food.

“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 said.

He added that continuous electricity supply was what freezers were designed for, saying, “Let it freeze the food that needs to be frozen.”

The minister recalled that during his Senate screening, he promised that Nigerians would begin to see improvements in electricity supply within three to six months.

Tegbe, however, acknowledged that significant challenges remain in the power sector, particularly ageing infrastructure.

According to him, some electricity infrastructure across the country is more than 40 years old, with the Federal Government working to replace ageing facilities and strengthen the national power system.

He also disclosed that three major transmission towers in Birnin Kebbi had recently been brought down by vandals.

The minister said the government had established a joint committee involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to help protect critical electricity infrastructure.

The minister’s comments come amid ongoing government efforts to improve electricity generation, transmission and distribution across the country.

While improved supply in some areas has been reported, electricity availability continues to vary across locations, with the sector still facing challenges involving infrastructure, gas supply, transmission capacity, distribution networks and vandalism.