Atiku’s aide faults power minister over ‘freezers freezing’ comment

Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar's presidential campaign for the African Democratic Congress, has criticized Power Minister Joseph Tegbe for his comment that some Nigerians complained about their freezers freezing too much. Tegbe made the remark while commissioning a solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University in Abuja, stating that some areas had gone without electricity for three months but were now receiving up to 18 hours of supply.

Ibe pointed out that official data showed a significant disparity between Nigeria's installed electricity generation capacity and the power available for dispatch. According to NERC's April 2026 data, only 4,286MW was available for dispatch from a total installed capacity of 13,625MW, representing a plant availability factor of 31 per cent.

Ibe argued that the government should focus on improving the reliability and affordability of electricity supply, rather than making light of the situation by joking about freezers freezing.