President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated seasoned economist and policy expert Joseph Tegbe as the new Minister of Power, in a move widely interpreted as a strategic effort to accelerate reforms in Nigeria’s troubled electricity sector.
The nomination, announced on Thursday in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has been forwarded to the Senate for confirmation in line with constitutional requirements.
According to the presidency, Tegbe’s appointment is expected to inject fresh expertise into ongoing efforts aimed at stabilising the national grid, improving electricity supply, and attracting long-term investment into the power sector—key pillars of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The President expects the Minister-designate, upon confirmation, to bring his extensive expertise to bear in advancing critical reforms and delivering improved outcomes for Nigerians,” the statement noted.
Tegbe’s nomination follows the resignation of former Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down in March 2026 after declaring his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State. His exit was in compliance with a directive issued by President Tinubu mandating political appointees seeking elective office to relinquish their positions.
Adelabu, a former governorship candidate in Oyo State, said his resignation aligned with due process and party guidelines as he prepared to re-enter partisan politics.
Tegbe, an indigene of Oyo State, brings over three decades of experience spanning both the public and private sectors. He is widely regarded as a fiscal and economic reform specialist with a strong background in governance, institutional restructuring, and policy implementation.
He previously served as Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led major initiatives in fiscal policy reform and institutional transformation across multiple African economies.
Currently, Tegbe holds the position of Director General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, where he coordinates bilateral development initiatives between Nigeria and China—an experience analysts say could prove valuable in mobilising foreign investment into Nigeria’s energy infrastructure.
He also chaired the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee, inaugurated in 2025 to oversee the rollout of Nigeria’s revised tax framework, further cementing his credentials as a reform-oriented technocrat.
Beyond fiscal policy, Tegbe has prior involvement in Nigeria’s power sector reforms, having worked with key institutions such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company. His engagements focused on regulatory strengthening, market efficiency, and institutional capacity building.
Industry observers note that his blend of economic expertise and sector-specific experience positions him as a potentially transformative figure at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with persistent power shortages, grid instability, and liquidity challenges within the electricity market.
If confirmed by the Senate, Tegbe will assume office at a critical juncture for Nigeria’s power sector, which remains a major bottleneck to industrial growth and economic competitiveness. Stakeholders are expected to closely monitor his approach to tariff reforms, market restructuring, and investment mobilisation.
His appointment also underscores the Tinubu administration’s increasing reliance on technocrats to drive complex sectoral reforms, particularly in areas requiring deep policy expertise and international engagement.
