Atiku’s aide faults power minister over ‘freezers freezing’ comment - Punch Newspapers
Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, over his comment that some Nigerians asked him to “slow down” because their freezers were freezing too much. Tegbe had made the remark on Wednesday while commissioning a 3MW solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, formerly the University of Abuja. The minister said some areas that had gone without electricity for three months were now receiving up to 18 hours of supply, adding that some consumers had contacted him to complain that their freezers were freezing. “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,” Tegbe was quoted as saying. Reacting on Thursday, Ibe questioned the minister’s account, arguing that official data showed a significant gap between Nigeria’s installed electricity generation capacity and the power available for dispatch. File: Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe. He said, “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? “Apparently, the Tinubu government hears voices the rest of Nigeria cannot hear. It hears Nigerians complaining about too much electricity, while official NERC data showed that in April only about 4,286MW was available for dispatch from 13,625MW of installed grid-connected capacity.” According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s April 2026 operational performance data, the 28 grid-connected plants covered by the report had an average available generation of 4,286MW from an installed capacity of 13,625MW, representing a plant availability factor of 31 per cent. NERC also reported an average load factor of 94 per cent, indicating that most of the capacity available for dispatch was utilised during the month. Ibe, however, said the minister’s comment did not reflect the experience of Nigerians facing rising energy and living costs. I’ve learnt Yoruba, can now campaign in language — Rhodes-Vivour 2027: Opposition leadership committee holds inaugural meeting Morning recap: NLC demands action on N1,500/litre petrol, endless anguish on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, other top stories “It hears freezers freezing. Nigerians hear generators roaring. It hears an electricity revolution. Families see electricity bills consuming their incomes. “It hears economic progress. Small businesses see the cost of electricity, petrol and diesel eating away their margins,” he said. Ibe also criticised the government over the cost of alternative energy sources, saying diesel had recently crossed N2,000 per litre in some parts of the country. He said the government should focus on the challenges facing Nigerians rather than the freezer anecdote. “The real story is not that Nigerians’ freezers are freezing. What is freezing is the quality of life of Nigerians. “Household incomes are being frozen by inflation. Small businesses are being frozen out by energy costs. Jobs are disappearing as operating costs rise. Families are cutting consumption simply to survive,” Ibe said. The ADC presidential candidate’s aide further argued that Nigeria’s electricity challenge could not be reduced to the minister’s claim about improved supply in some areas. “Nigeria does not have an electricity problem because the Minister is supplying too much power. The available official numbers tell a considerably less triumphant story,” he said. Ibe urged the Federal Government to focus on improving the reliability and affordability of electricity supply. “The government should leave the freezer jokes alone. Give Nigerians reliable and affordable electricity. Let their freezers freeze. Stop freezing their lives,” he said. Fawzi Kehinde Fawzi is a journalist and subeditor covering a wide range of beats including politics, metro, and international news, among others. He also optimises stories for digital audiences.
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