Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe has promised Nigerians uninterrupted electricity within the next three to five years. He made the pledge with confidence during a recent interview with broadcaster Riyah Abdul.
Joseph Tegbe Sets a Three-to-Five-Year Timeline
Abdul asked the minister when Nigerians would finally see stable electricity. Tegbe said he believes the country will enjoy stable power supply within three to five years, and that Nigerians will then stop worrying about blackouts. He added that he is working to make his plans succeed.
The minister also addressed Nigerians who already have access to electricity. He he is working to make their supply more stable, and that these customers will see visible improvements. For communities that have never enjoyed power supply, he said grid enhancement and increased power generation will deliver benefits within three to five years. 
Tegbe’s Remarks in His Own Words
“For those who are currently having access, what we are working on is to stabilise the grid, and it will get better. You will continue to see visible improvement,” Tegbe said. “For the areas that haven’t enjoyed electricity access, with the grid enhancement we are doing and the build-up in power generation we are doing, we believe that those projects, you will see the benefit of those projects in the next three years.”
He continued: “I believe that Nigerians in the next three to five years should be able to work in their homes and walk into their offices without any fear of light out.”
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Lagos Residents Endure Days of Blackouts
The promise comes as Lagos struggles with severe blackouts that have lasted for days. Many areas receive less than three hours of power daily, even though stable power supply was promised. Residents in places such as Somolu have taken to the streets to protest against the lack of supply.
READ ALSO: Ikeja Electric Blames Grid Shortfall For Poor Supply, But Nigeria’s Electricity Problems Run Deeper
Joseph Tegbe Blames Maintenance, Gas Shortages and Sabotage
Tegbe blamed the outage on maintenance work at Egbin Power Station, gas shortages and sabotage of transmission lines. On 9 November, he confirmed that supply had returned to Ajah, Lekki, Ikoyi, Magodo and Ikeja, with grid supply reaching Lagos.
Nigerians React on Social Media
Social media users quickly challenged the minister’s promise. One user, @samarita_nenyee, dismissed it as “another empty promise” and told others to “wait for the next three years.”
Another user, @AdewaleAdedigba, accused Ikeja Electric of denying light to customers in Ojodu Berger because they do not belong to Band A. “You are very wicked and show no concern for those living in Ojodu Berger, by Odozi Street,” he wrote. “You are taking business owners in Ojodu Berger for granted. Restore our light now.”
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