President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Nigeria’s Minister of Power, signaling a renewed push to accelerate reforms in the country’s struggling electricity sector.
The nomination, which has been forwarded to the Senate for screening and confirmation in line with constitutional provisions, follows the resignation of former minister Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down to pursue elective office.
Tegbe, a seasoned fiscal and economic reform expert from Oyo State, brings more than three decades of experience across both public and private sectors. He previously served as a Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led initiatives focused on fiscal policy, institutional transformation, and governance reforms.
His career includes advisory roles for government institutions and private sector organizations on regulatory frameworks, investment structuring, and economic strategy—experience that analysts say could prove critical in addressing Nigeria’s long-standing power sector inefficiencies.
Currently, Tegbe 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 platform also coordinates engagements aligned with the objectives of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Notably, Tegbe has prior involvement in Nigeria’s electricity market reforms, including engagements with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company. His background in regulatory and institutional restructuring is expected to support ongoing efforts to stabilize the national grid and improve market efficiency.
The nomination comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s power sector, which continues to face challenges including unreliable supply, infrastructure deficits, and limited investment inflows. The administration’s reform agenda—framed under the “Renewed Hope” policy direction—aims to attract sustainable investment, improve generation and distribution capacity, and enhance overall energy security.
If confirmed, Tegbe is expected to play a central role in advancing these reforms and restoring investor confidence in one of Africa’s largest but most underperforming electricity markets.