The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has assured Nigerians that recent electricity supply disruptions across parts of the country have been resolved, following the completion of maintenance work at Egbin Power Station and improvements in gas supply to thermal power plants.

Tegbe gave the assurance on Monday during an interview on TVC, saying the government was working to sustain grid stability and prevent further disruptions.

The minister had on November 7 attributed power outages in four states, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to planned maintenance at Egbin Power Station, gas supply constraints and the sabotage of transmission lines.

He explained that the maintenance work and limited gas supply had reduced electricity generation, leaving less power available for distribution across the national grid.

However, speaking on Monday, Tegbe said the immediate challenges had been addressed and that the government was focused on maintaining stable electricity supply.

“Number one, we’ve sorted out this little challenge we had in the last few days. It was painful for most of you. But look, we fixed it. And we will ensure that that stability remains. My focus is to ensure grid stability,” he said.

On the situation in Lagos, the minister said electricity had returned to several communities as of Sunday night, following personal checks with relevant officials.

“I’m sure in Lagos, I confirm as at last night because I made personal calls, Ajah, Lekki, Ikoyi, Magodo, Ikeja, lights are back,” he said.

He added: “And people have attested to it, people have sent me messages. Nigerians, again, I appeal to you, just bear with us, we’ll get there.”

Beyond the immediate supply challenges, Tegbe projected that Nigeria could achieve more stable electricity supply within the next three to five years, stressing that improvements would depend on expanding the country’s power infrastructure to meet rising demand.

“Honestly speaking, you already see some visible improvement despite the challenge we have had. By the time we fix the grid…okay? I’ll look at the horizon of about three to five years from now,” he said.

The minister said infrastructure expansion would take time, particularly as electricity demand continues to grow due to increased digital activities, artificial intelligence and the expansion of data infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Tegbe disclosed that the Federal Government was planning a $2 billion investment in an east-west super grid to strengthen electricity transmission and raise the national grid’s capacity to 19,000 megawatts.

He said the proposed infrastructure would complement existing transmission facilities rather than replace them, improving the resilience and stability of the national grid.

According to him, the project will traverse Funtua, Gwagwalada, Ikot Ekpene, Benin, Epe and Ilorin, connecting key locations across the country.

Tegbe said procurement had commenced and the project could be completed within two years. He added that the government was also looking to attract private sector investment into electricity transmission within the next two to three years.

The minister said the immediate priority remained the optimisation of existing electricity infrastructure while the government pursued long-term investments to expand transmission capacity. (The Sun)