President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched a fresh restructuring of Nigeria’s power sector with the nomination of a new Minister of Power and the creation of a presidential task force aimed at accelerating long-delayed reforms in the electricity value chain.
In a move intended to address persistent blackouts and inefficiencies in the sector, the President nominated Joseph Tegbe as Minister of Power, subject to Senate confirmation. He also appointed former power minister Lanre Babalola as Special Adviser on Power and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration.
The announcements were contained in separate statements issued by the Presidency through Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the Presidency, Tegbe’s nomination follows the resignation of former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down to pursue political ambitions in Oyo State.
Tegbe, an experienced fiscal and economic reform expert, previously served as a senior partner at KPMG Africa, where he led advisory work on fiscal policy, governance restructuring, and institutional reforms. He is also the Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership.
The Presidency said his appointment is expected to strengthen ongoing efforts to stabilise the national grid, improve sector efficiency, and attract long-term investment into the electricity industry.
“Upon confirmation, he is expected to bring his extensive expertise to advance critical reforms and deliver improved outcomes for Nigerians in the power sector,” the statement said.
In a parallel development, Babalola’s appointment marks a return to the sector he once supervised as minister. The Presidency said his experience gives him a deep understanding of the structural challenges affecting the electricity market.
The newly created Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration is expected to serve as a high-level delivery platform with a direct mandate to drive urgent reforms.
Its responsibilities include restructuring the power sector, enforcing a “performance before expansion” framework, reducing technical and commercial losses, improving tariff discipline, strengthening revenue assurance, and restoring grid stability.
The task force will also focus on enhancing market efficiency, boosting industrial electricity usage, developing electricity growth zones, and reducing the fiscal burden of the power sector on government finances. It is expected to deliver a 90-day implementation blueprint for immediate reforms.
Additionally, the Presidency announced a restructuring of energy governance roles, renaming the Office of the Special Adviser (Energy), currently held by Olu Verheijen, to Special Adviser (Oil & Gas) to avoid duplication and clarify responsibilities.
The reforms reflect what the Presidency described as a renewed push under the administration’s energy agenda to deliver measurable improvements in electricity supply and sector performance.
Officials say the restructuring is aimed at shifting the sector toward accountability, efficiency, and long-term stability after years of underperformance and public frustration over power shortages.
