In a dramatic twist to Nigeria’s perennial energy crisis, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has revealed that some citizens are jokingly begging him to "slow down" the electricity supply because their freezers are now working continuously.

Speaking during the commissioning of a 3-megawatt solar hybrid power project at the University of Abuja, Tegbe highlighted a significant turnaround in electricity distribution across parts of the country. Areas previously cast in darkness for months are now experiencing up to 18 hours of uninterrupted power supply.

"Places that didn’t have light at all for three months are now having 18 hours light," the Minister shared. "Some areas called me to say, look, I should slow down, that everything in their freezer is freezing. That is what a freezer is meant to do. Let it freeze the food that needs to be frozen".

Aging Infrastructure and Vandalism Threaten Gains.

Tegbe recalled his Senate screening promise to deliver noticeable improvements within three to six months. While celebrating the early milestones, he urged caution, reminding stakeholders that the country’s power infrastructure remains fragile, with some critical assets being over 40 years old.

The Minister raised an alarm over deliberate economic sabotage, disclosing that three major transmission towers in Birnin Kebbi were recently brought down by vandals. The targeted towers, which supply electricity to Kebbi State and parts of Niger Republic, had their foundations critically damaged before parts were cut away for sale in the scrap market.

To protect these national assets, the Federal Government has established a joint working committee comprising the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to monitor infrastructure and actively prosecute economic saboteurs.