By Bassey Udo
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday named the former Director General of Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, Joseph Tegbe as Minister of Power.
Also, the President announced the constitution of Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration which has as its Chairman one-time Minister of Power in the Yar’Adua Administration, Rilwan Lanre Babalola.
A statement by the Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Mr Tegbe’s nomination has already been transmitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation in accordance with the Constitution.
Mr Onanuga said the new Minister would succeed the former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who resigned recently from office to enable him pursue his gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State.
Mr Tegbe, an indigene of Oyo State, is reputed to be a fiscal and economic reform expert with over 35 years of experience spanning the public and private sectors.
Apart from being a former Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led wide-ranging initiatives in fiscal policy reform, institutional transformation, and governance,Tegbe served as adviser to key government institutions and private sector organisations on strategic reforms, regulatory frameworks, and investment structuring.
Until his appointment, Tegbe served as the Director General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), responsible for strengthening bilateral development cooperation between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China.
Also, the NCSP coordinated engagements with public sector stakeholders to advance economic and social development in line with FOCAC objectives.
Mr Tegbe’s experience includes significant engagements within the power sector, particularly in regulatory and institutional reform involving agencies such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).
Tegbe’s nomination is expected to strengthen further ongoing efforts to reform the power sector, enhance grid stability, and attract sustainable investment in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Onanuga said the President’s expectation was that the Minister-Designate, upon confirmation, would bring his extensive expertise to bear to advance critical reforms and deliver improved outcomes for Nigerians in the power sector.
Meanwhile, Mr Onanuga said the president has also redesignated the Office of the Special Adviser (Energy) as the Special Adviser (Oil & Gas) to clarify roles and avoid duplication of functions within the energy governance framework.
He said the appointment of Mr Babalola, who would also serve as the Special Adviser to the President on Power, was to bring deep sectoral expertise and a proven understanding of the structural and operational challenges within the electricity value chain.
His appointment, he pointed out, underscores the President’s determination to undertake a decisive and results-driven reset of Nigeria’s power sector.
The presidential taskforce, which he heads, would operate under a direct presidential mandate as a high-level, delivery-focused vehicle to restore discipline, efficiency, and commercial viability across the power sector, while ensuring effective coordination among relevant ministries, departments, and agencies.
Mr Onanuga said the taskforce’s mandate includes driving a comprehensive system reset of the electricity sector; implementing a “Performance Before Expansion” framework; reducing technical, commercial, and collection losses; and strengthening cost discipline and tariff integrity.
The taskforce, he noted, will also enhance revenue assurance and sector liquidity; restore grid discipline and market integrity; promote productive use of power across key sectors; develop electricity growth zones; reduce fiscal exposure; and deliver a 90-day implementation blueprint.
“The president expects Mr Babalola to bring urgency, discipline, and a strong execution focus to this assignment, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, to deliver measurable improvements in power supply and sector performance,” Mr Onanuga said.
Prior to his appointment, he was the electric power sector reform Team Leader at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) responsible for the restructuring of defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), the creation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) successor companies, the establishment of the wholesale electricity market, and the setting up of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), amongst other key reform initiatives.
Babalola had previously worked as an investment banker before his sojourn in the public sector.
As Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Power Sector Reset and Restoration, Babalola would lead it to pursue its mandate of tackling grid inefficiencies, reduce power sector losses, improve liquidity, and drive reforms aimed at boosting electricity supply nationwide.
