• President Bola Tinubu has nominated Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power to replace Adebayo Adelabu, who resigned to pursue elective office
• The presidency says Tegbe’s nomination will support power sector reform, grid stability and investment
• Tegbe’s nomination has been forwarded to the Senate for screening and confirmation

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Nigeria’s new Minister of Power, in a move that signals another shake-up in the country’s electricity sector.

His nomination, which is subject to Senate confirmation, was announced on Thursday, April 30, in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The presidency said Tegbe’s nomination follows the resignation of former Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down from office to pursue elective office.

The nomination has already been forwarded to the Senate for screening and confirmation in line with constitutional provisions.

According to the presidency, Tegbe’s appointment is expected to reinforce the administration’s ongoing efforts to stabilise and reform Nigeria’s troubled power sector.

“His 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,” the statement partly reads.

Onanuga added that President Tinubu expects the minister-designate to deploy his experience toward accelerating key reforms and improving electricity outcomes for Nigerians.

Tegbe, an 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 is 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.

“He has also advised key government institutions and private sector organisations on strategic reforms, regulatory frameworks, and investment structuring,” the statement partly reads.

The nominee currently serves as Director General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), where he oversees bilateral development cooperation between Nigeria and China.

The presidency noted that the partnership also coordinates engagements with public sector stakeholders to support economic and social development in line with Forum on China-Africa Cooperation objectives.

Tegbe is also bringing direct sector experience to the role.

According to the presidency, he has worked on regulatory and institutional reforms in the power sector, including engagements with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).

His nomination comes at a tense moment for Nigeria’s electricity industry.

Distribution companies are currently under renewed financial strain after the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission ordered them to refund N20.33 billion to customers who bought prepaid meters under the Meter Asset Provider scheme.

NERC had directed that the refunds be completed within 12 months through direct electricity bill credits.

The development also comes months after the Federal Government disclosed plans to begin sharing electricity subsidy costs with state and local governments from 2026, a move aimed at easing the burden of sustaining subsidies in the power sector.

If confirmed by the Senate, Tegbe will take over one of the country’s most difficult ministries at a time when expectations around electricity supply, sector liquidity and power market reforms remain high.

Tinubu names Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu Nigeria’s new Foreign Affairs Minister

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs, elevating her to the top diplomatic role following the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s appointment marks her return to a more senior position within Nigeria’s foreign affairs structure, having previously served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.