President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Nigeria’s new Minister of Power, pending confirmation by the Senate. The nomination, formally transmitted in line with constitutional provisions, follows the resignation of Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down to pursue elective office.
Tegbe, an indigene of Oyo State, is a seasoned fiscal and economic reform expert with over three decades of experience across both public and private sectors. He previously served as Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led major initiatives in governance reform, fiscal policy, and institutional transformation. His advisory portfolio includes strategic engagements with government agencies and private organizations on regulatory frameworks and investment planning.
Currently, Tegbe holds the position of Director General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), where he oversees efforts to deepen development collaboration between Nigeria and China. The partnership aligns with broader objectives under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to drive economic growth and social development.
His track record also includes notable involvement in Nigeria’s electricity sector, particularly in regulatory and institutional reforms linked to agencies such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company. The presidency expects his expertise to support ongoing reforms aimed at improving grid stability, boosting investor confidence, and enhancing overall sector performance under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a related development, President Tinubu has appointed Rilwan Lanre Babalola as Special Adviser on Power and Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Power Sector Reset and Restoration. The move signals a renewed push to overhaul Nigeria’s electricity system through a structured, results-oriented approach.
Babalola, a former Minister for Power, brings significant industry experience and a deep understanding of the operational challenges across the electricity value chain. His leadership of the taskforce is expected to drive reforms focused on efficiency, accountability, and commercial sustainability.
The taskforce will operate under direct presidential oversight and is mandated to implement wide-ranging reforms. These include enforcing a “performance before expansion” model, reducing system losses, improving revenue collection, strengthening tariff discipline, and enhancing liquidity within the sector. It will also focus on restoring grid reliability, promoting productive energy use across industries, and developing Electricity Growth Zones.
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Additionally, the taskforce is expected to deliver a comprehensive 90-day action plan aimed at stabilizing the sector, reducing fiscal burdens, and improving power supply outcomes nationwide.
The presidency emphasized that both appointments reflect a strong commitment to accelerating reforms and delivering measurable improvements in Nigeria’s power sector.
