President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Nigeria’s new Minister of Power, subject to confirmation by the Senate.
The nomination was announced on Wednesday by the President’s aide, Olusegun Dada, in a statement shared on X.
According to the statement, the nomination has already been forwarded to the Senate for screening and confirmation in line with constitutional requirements.
He wrote: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The nomination has been transmitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation in accordance with the Constitution.”
Tegbe’s nomination follows the resignation of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who recently stepped down from office to pursue elective political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Further details about Tegbe’s appointment were provided by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who described him as a highly experienced fiscal and economic reform expert with more than 35 years of professional experience across both public and private sectors.
According to Onanuga, Tegbe previously served as Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he spearheaded major reforms in fiscal policy, institutional restructuring, and governance systems.
He has also worked closely with several government institutions and private sector organisations, offering strategic advisory services on regulatory reforms, investment planning, and policy development.
Currently, Tegbe serves as the Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), where he oversees efforts aimed at strengthening development cooperation between Nigeria and China.
His role includes coordinating partnerships with public institutions to advance Nigeria’s economic and social development objectives in alignment with the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) framework.
Tegbe is also said to possess considerable experience within Nigeria’s power sector, particularly in regulatory and institutional reforms involving agencies such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).
His nomination comes at a critical period for Nigeria’s electricity sector, which continues to grapple with persistent challenges including inadequate power generation, transmission bottlenecks, and widespread distribution inefficiencies.
If confirmed by the Senate, Tegbe will be expected to lead efforts to address these longstanding issues and implement reforms aimed at improving electricity supply across the country.
What You Should Know
Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe’s nomination signals President Tinubu’s continued focus on appointing technocrats with strong reform backgrounds into key sectors of the economy.
His vast experience in fiscal policy, regulatory transformation, and institutional reforms positions him as a strategic choice for Nigeria’s troubled power sector. The appointment comes as the country seeks sustainable solutions to its electricity challenges.
If confirmed by the Senate, Tegbe will face immediate pressure to improve power generation, strengthen transmission systems, and drive investor confidence in the sector.
His success could significantly influence economic productivity and industrial growth across Nigeria.
