Manny Ita –
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed former Minister of Power, Rilwan Lanre Babalola, as Special Adviser on Power and Chairman of a newly created Presidential Task Force aimed at reforming the electricity sector.
The announcement, made by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, came shortly after the nomination of Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the new Minister of Power.
As part of the restructuring, the presidency renamed the Office of the Special Adviser on Energy to Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, allowing Babalola to focus fully on power sector issues. He will also lead the task force, which has been given direct authority by the president to drive urgent reforms.
The task force is expected to tackle long-standing challenges in the electricity sector by improving efficiency, reducing financial and technical losses, and strengthening coordination among government agencies. It will also push a “performance before expansion” strategy, improve tariff systems, boost liquidity, and develop energy growth zones. A 90-day action plan is expected to guide its initial work.
Babalola, who previously served as power minister under late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, brings extensive experience in electricity sector reforms. He played a key role in earlier restructuring efforts, including the establishment of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.
The new appointments follow the resignation of former power minister Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down to pursue political ambitions. The changes signal the administration’s renewed push to address persistent power shortages, sector debt, and infrastructure gaps in Nigeria’s electricity industry.
