Abuja, Nigeria
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Nigeria’s new Minister of Power, with the appointment now awaiting confirmation by the National Assembly.
The nomination, officially transmitted to the Senate, follows the resignation of former Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down to pursue elective political office. The Presidency disclosed this in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, Tegbe’s nomination is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen leadership in Nigeria’s power sector, a key area affecting daily life, businesses, and economic growth across the country.
Tegbe, an indigene of Oyo State, brings over 35 years of experience spanning both the public and private sectors. He is widely recognised for his work in fiscal policy, economic reform, and institutional development.
He previously served as Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led several high-level initiatives focused on governance, policy reform, and organisational transformation. His work also includes advising both government agencies and private sector organisations on regulatory frameworks, investment planning, and strategic reforms.
Beyond his consulting background, Tegbe has played roles connected to Nigeria’s electricity sector. His experience includes involvement in regulatory and institutional reforms linked to agencies such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).
He currently serves as Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), where he coordinates development cooperation efforts between Nigeria and China. This includes engagements aligned with the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), focusing on infrastructure, investment, and economic collaboration.
The Presidency noted that Tegbe’s appointment is expected to support ongoing reforms aimed at improving electricity supply, stabilising the national grid, and attracting long-term investment into the sector.
Nigeria’s power sector remains one of the most pressing issues for citizens and businesses, with frequent outages and supply challenges affecting productivity and quality of life.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that, if confirmed, Tegbe will use his extensive experience to drive meaningful improvements and deliver results in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Tegbe’s nomination will now undergo screening by the Senate, where lawmakers will assess his qualifications and suitability for the role before a final confirmation decision is made.