Tinubu appoints Babalola as power adviser, heads sector reset taskforce
…presidency unveils sweeping reforms to restore efficiency, liquidity …office of Special Adviser (Energy) redesignated to streamline roles President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed former Minister of Power, Mr. Rilwan Lanre
...presidency unveils sweeping reforms to restore efficiency, liquidity
...office of Special Adviser (Energy) redesignated to streamline roles
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed former Minister of Power, Mr. Rilwan Lanre Babalola, as his Special Adviser on Power and chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration.
The appointment, announced on Thursday in a statement issued by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, signals a renewed push by the administration to drive a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s electricity sector.
In a related development, the President approved the redesignation of the Office of the Special Adviser (Energy) to Special Adviser (Oil & Gas), a move aimed at clarifying responsibilities and eliminating overlaps within the energy governance structure.
Babalola, who previously served as Minister of Power, is expected to bring extensive experience and deep understanding of the structural and operational challenges within the electricity value chain to his new role.
The Presidency said the newly established Presidential Task Force will operate under a direct mandate from the President as a high-level, delivery-focused vehicle to restore discipline, efficiency and commercial viability across the sector.
According to the statement, the Task Force will coordinate closely with relevant ministries, departments and agencies to ensure effective policy execution and measurable outcomes.
Its core mandate includes driving a comprehensive system reset of the electricity sector, implementing a “Performance Before Expansion” framework, and reducing technical, commercial and collection losses that have long plagued the industry.
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The Task Force is also expected to strengthen cost discipline and tariff integrity, enhance revenue assurance and sector liquidity, and restore grid discipline and market stability.
Other priority areas include promoting the productive use of electricity across key sectors of the economy, developing Electricity Growth Zones, reducing government’s fiscal exposure to the sector, and delivering a 90-day implementation blueprint.
The President expressed confidence that Babalola would bring urgency, discipline and strong execution focus to the assignment, in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
