Tinubu nominates Tegbe to replace Adelabu as Power Minister
Bolaji Ogundele President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power. This followed the resignation of Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down to pursue elective
- President names Babalola Special Adviser on Power
Bolaji Ogundele
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power.
This followed the resignation of Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down to pursue elective office.
The President has also appointed a 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.
A statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the President has transmitted the nomination to the Senate for screening and confirmation, in accordance with constitutional provisions.
Tegbe, an indigene of Oyo State, is a fiscal and economic reform expert with over 35 years of experience spanning the public and private sectors.
Until his nomination, he served as the Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), where he coordinated bilateral development cooperation between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China, aligning engagements with the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) objectives.
He is a former Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led major initiatives in fiscal policy reform, institutional transformation and governance, advising government institutions and private sector organisations on regulatory frameworks, strategic reforms and investment structuring.
The President said the nomination is expected to strengthen ongoing efforts to reform the power sector, improve grid stability and attract sustainable investments in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Tegbe is also said to possess significant experience in the power sector, particularly in regulatory and institutional reforms involving key agencies, such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).
His nomination comes at a critical time as the Federal Government intensifies reforms aimed at addressing longstanding challenges in electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that the minister-designate, if confirmed, would leverage his extensive expertise to advance critical reforms and deliver improved outcomes for Nigerians in the power sector.
Babalola’s appointment, which was announced yesterday in a statement by Onanuga, signals a renewed push by the administration to drive a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s electricity sector.
Also, 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 is expected to bring extensive experience and a 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.
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 the 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.
