Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, says some electricity consumers have asked him to “slow down” improvements in power supply because their freezers are now working continuously.

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

He said some consumers had contacted him to complain that the improved supply was causing their freezers to operate continuously.

“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. That is what freezer is meant to do. Let it freeze the food that needs to be frozen,” Tegbe said.

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

He, however, acknowledged the challenges confronting the sector, noting that some electricity infrastructure across the country is more than 40 years old.

Tegbe said the Federal Government was systematically replacing obsolete infrastructure and introducing new facilities to improve the reliability of electricity supply.

He also expressed concern over the vandalism of critical power infrastructure, revealing that three major transmission towers in Birnin Kebbi had been brought down by vandals.

According to him, the affected towers formed part of the infrastructure supplying electricity to Kebbi State and extending to Niger Republic.

He said the vandals attacked the foundations of the towers before bringing them down and cutting parts of the structures for sale in the scrap market.

Tegbe disclosed that the Federal Government had established a joint working committee involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to monitor and protect national electricity assets.

“You will not believe how many towers get pulled down by vandals,” he said.

He added that efforts were underway to ensure vandalism of critical electricity infrastructure is treated as a serious criminal offence.

Yakubu Gowon University Solar Project

Speaking on the university project, Tegbe said the facility comprises a 3.3-megawatt solar array, 3MW AC output capacity and battery storage to supply electricity to critical facilities within the institution.

He said the project would power lecture halls, laboratories, ICT facilities, administrative buildings, campus lighting and other essential services.

According to him, more than 58,726 students are expected to benefit from the project, which includes 6,078 photovoltaic panels and 388 streetlights installed across the university.

The Minister said the project also created 3,201 jobs during its implementation.

He explained that the battery storage capacity could be expanded to provide electricity to additional parts of the university, including student hostels.

Tegbe said the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, would collaborate with the university to address areas of the campus that still require improved lighting.

He also urged the institution to use the facility to promote research into renewable energy, battery storage, smart metering, energy management, grid integration, cybersecurity and other areas of modern energy technology.

The Managing Director of the REA, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, described the project as a significant milestone under the Energizing Education Programme.

Aliyu said the programme should not be assessed solely by the amount of electricity generated, but also by its impact on students, academic activities, research and the overall learning environment.

He said reliable electricity would improve laboratory operations, strengthen digital services and reduce pressure on university operating budgets.

The Head of the Nigeria Electrification Project, Olufemi Akinyelure, said the wider development opportunities created by reliable electricity should also be considered in assessing the project.

He said investment in education remained important because powering universities goes beyond lighting buildings to supporting learning, innovation and national development.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, commended the Federal Government and the Minister for implementing the Energizing Education Programme.

Abaribe said reliable electricity was fundamental to the development of Nigeria’s education system, recalling that power supply in universities was more dependable during his time as a student.

He, however, stressed that communities must play an active role in protecting public infrastructure to ensure its sustainability.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi, said dependable electricity was essential to the institution’s academic mission.

Fawehinmi said a modern university could not effectively conduct teaching, research, laboratory activities and digital services without reliable power supply.

He thanked the Federal Government and the REA for the intervention, describing the solar hybrid project as a major infrastructure investment in the university.

The Vice-Chancellor also called for continued collaboration between government agencies and the university to ensure the facility remains operational and delivers its intended benefits to students and staff.