Oshogbo-Ikeja: Six Towers Were Vandalised—Tegbe Reveal Why Lagos Still Faces Power Supply Challenges

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has explained that ageing electricity infrastructure and the vandalisation of transmission towers are among the factors affecting power supply in Lagos and neighbouring states. Tegbe spoke during an interview on TVC News on Monday, November 9, 2026.

The minister said the absence of alternative transmission routes had contributed to the difficulties experienced when major electricity lines went out of service. “The challenge it’s anybody could ask, and any rational human being will ask you, if your line goes off, why don’t you have your backup? Or why don’t you have somewhere you divert? Look, some of the equipments we have are 40, 50 years old,” Tegbe said.

According to the minister, four major transmission lines supply electricity to Lagos, but only three were operational as of Monday morning. “There are four major lines that come into Lagos. As we speak today, this morning, three lines are working. One has been down for almost one and a half years, and that is Oshogbo-Ikeja West. Oshogbo-Ikeja West typically will bring another 400 megawatts into Lagos. But towers have been vandalized along Oshogbo-Ikeja West,” he added.

The minister disclosed that approximately six transmission towers along the route had been vandalised, making repairs difficult because they were located in a swampy area. It’s sitting in a very swampy area, and it’s been a tough time to fix that. But I have a commitment that that will also be fixed by the end of November,” Tegbe said.

He expressed optimism that restoring the transmission line, alongside other electricity infrastructure, would improve power supply across the Lagos-Ogun corridor. “So once all these things are in place, we should be okay in the Lagos-Ogun corridor. So that’s basically what went wrong. We’ll fix it,” he stated.

Tegbe also said electricity had returned to several parts of Lagos following the restoration work and other interventions. He mentioned areas including Ajah, Lekki, Ikoyi, Magodo and Ikeja, saying he had personally contacted people in the areas to confirm the situation. “And I’m sure in Lagos, I confirm as I last night, because I made personal calls, Aja, Lekki, Ikoyi, Magudo, Ikeja, lights are back,” he said.

The minister added that residents had confirmed the improvement through messages sent to him. “And people have attested to it. People have sent me messages. Nigeria has again appealed to you, just bear with us, we’ll get there,” he said.

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