Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially sworn in Engineer Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Nigeria’s new Minister of Power in a brief ceremony held on Monday, June 8, 2026. The event took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja in the presence of the minister’s spouse and senior government officials, marking the formal induction of the seasoned technocrat into the Federal Executive Council.
The new minister, who hails from Ibadan in Oyo State, brings over three and a half decades of experience in both the public and private sectors, with a strong track record in economic and fiscal reforms and institutional transformation. His appointment fills the vacancy created by the resignation of former Power Minister Chief Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down in March 2026 to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
President Tinubu, acting in accordance with the Constitution, nominated Tegbe for the position on April 30, 2026, and subsequently transmitted his name to the Senate for screening and confirmation. Lawmakers screened and confirmed the nominee on May 6, 2026, clearing the path for his formal inauguration. The confirmation was part of a broader exercise that also saw the swearing-in of Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who replaced former Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, also a political appointee who resigned to pursue his own political ambitions.
Following his swearing-in, Engineer Tegbe assured Nigerians that visible improvements in the electricity sector would continue to emerge. “Since the Senate confirmed my appointment, we have hit the ground running,” he told reporters. “Within this period, we have drawn up a structured power sector reform strategy anchored on execution discipline, clear milestones, and public accountability.”
The new minister revealed that he has already held substantive consultations with critical sector agencies, including the Ministry of Power, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Rural Electrification Agency, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company, and international development partners. “They have been very supportive, aligned, and ready to deliver,” Tegbe stated. “International development partners have expressed willingness to provide liquidity support to the sector, which is a significant vote of confidence in the direction of our reforms.”
Tegbe pointed to early signs of progress under the administration’s power sector roadmap. He noted that the Niger Delta Power Holding Company had successfully revived the 450‑megawatt Alaoji Open Cycle Power Plant in Abia State after three years of inactivity. “Preliminary results from this approach have started to emerge, and we are committed to delivering reliable and affordable electricity to Nigerians while maintaining transparency about the pace of progress,” he added.
Tegbe’s academic credentials and career achievements are extensive. He holds a First Class degree in Civil Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Switzerland, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Birmingham. Before his ministerial appointment, he served as Director‑General and Global Liaison of the Nigeria‑China Strategic Partnership, a position focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China.
Prior to that, Tegbe was a Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG in Africa, where he led transformative initiatives in fiscal policy reform and institutional transformation across the continent. His professional portfolio includes advisory roles to several government institutions and private sector organizations, including the Nigerian Communications Commission, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Shell, Huawei, General Electric, and the Odu’a Group.
The swearing-in of the new power minister comes at a critical juncture for Nigeria’s energy sector, where chronic generation, transmission and distribution challenges have long hampered economic growth and industrial development. President Tinubu’s administration, through the “Renewed Hope Agenda,” has prioritized comprehensive power sector reforms aimed at achieving grid stability, financial sustainability, and increased private sector participation.
With Engineer Joseph Tegbe now formally at the helm of the Ministry of Power, the Federal Government signals its intent to place technical expertise and institutional reform experience at the center of its strategy to finally fix the country’s power supply problems. For millions of Nigerians who still struggle with unreliable electricity, the new minister’s promises of measurable outcomes and public accountability will be measured not by words, but by whether the lights stay on.
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