Tinubu reshuffles power sector, appoints new minister, adviser

After months of blackouts, President Bola Tinubu has begun a fresh restructuring of Nigeria’s power sector with the nomination of a new minister of power and the appointment of a special adviser to head a presidential task force on sector reforms.

In a move aimed at accelerating reforms in the electricity value chain, the President nominated Mr Joseph Tegbe as Minister of Power, subject to Senate confirmation, while also appointing a former power minister, Mr Lanre Babalola, as Special Adviser on Power and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration.

The developments were contained in separate State House press releases issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to the presidency, Tegbe’s nomination follows the resignation of the former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

Tegbe, another indigene of Oyo State, is described by the presidency as a fiscal and economic reform expert with more than 35 years of experience across both the public and private sectors.

He was said to have previously served as senior partner and head of advisory services at KPMG Africa, where he led assignments in fiscal policy reform, governance restructuring, institutional transformation, and investment advisory.

He has also worked closely with government institutions and private sector operators on regulatory frameworks and strategic reforms.