Paul Ibe, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has criticized Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe over his claim that some Nigerians have asked him to slow down improvements in electricity supply because their freezers are now freezing continuously.
Tegbe made the comment on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in Abuja while speaking at the commissioning of a 3-megawatt solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja.
The minister said some areas that previously experienced prolonged power outages were now receiving up to 18 hours of electricity daily.
“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.
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However, reacting in a Facebook post on Thursday, Ibe questioned the minister’s account of the situation, arguing that many Nigerians continue to struggle with the cost and reliability of electricity.
“Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, says Nigerians are calling him and asking him to ‘slow down’ because their freezers are now freezing too much. For real?” Ibe wrote.
He cited data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission showing that in April 2026, an average of 4,286 megawatts was available for dispatch from 13,625MW of installed grid-connected generation capacity. NERC’s figures put plant availability at 31 per cent during the month.
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Ibe contrasted the minister’s account of improved electricity supply with the wider challenges facing households and businesses, including the cost of alternative power sources and electricity.
“It hears freezers freezing. Nigerians hear generators roaring. It hears an electricity revolution. Families see electricity bills consuming their incomes,” he said.
He argued that the focus should be on ensuring that Nigerians have reliable and affordable electricity, rather than celebrating isolated improvements in supply.
“Perhaps the government should stop listening to these convenient voices and start listening to the millions of Nigerians struggling with the cost of energy, food, transportation and basic survival,” Ibe said.
He added: “Give Nigerians reliable and affordable electricity. Let their freezers freeze. Stop freezing their lives.”
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Tegbe, meanwhile, has maintained that efforts to improve electricity supply are beginning to produce results in some parts of the country. He also acknowledged challenges in the sector, including ageing infrastructure and vandalism of electricity infrastructure.
The controversy comes amid continuing debate over Nigeria’s electricity generation capacity, reliability of supply and the cost of electricity to households and businesses.
