The Senate confirmed Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the Minister of Power on Wednesday, 6 May 2026, providing leadership to address the country’s longstanding electricity challenges following the resignation of the former Minister.
Tegbe’s confirmation, alongside Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, followed a screening process and deliberation by the Senate Committee of the Whole.
Senators approved both nominees by voice vote, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
President Bola Tinubu nominated Tegbe after the resignation of former Minister Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down in late April 2026 to prepare for the governorship ahead of the 2027 elections.
Adelabu’s exit took effect at the end of April.
The incoming minister is a 60-year-old first-class civil engineering graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University (1988) and brings extensive technocratic experience to the role.
He served as Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa and has advised on power sector reforms, including work with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET).
He currently serves as Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership.
During his screening, Tegbe pledged visible improvements in the power sector within his first 100 days in office.
Key details include:
– Stabilising the national grid to reduce frequent collapses.
– Improving gas supply to power plants.
– Implementing anti-vandalism measures.
– Enforcing stricter discipline and transparency across the sector.
– Introducing a public performance dashboard for accountability.
– Advancing metering and distribution upgrades.
– Encouraging greater state-level participation in power generation.
Tegbe told senators he would not make unrealistic promises, emphasising that results must be visible within three months or his efforts would fall short.
Lawmakers, however, cautioned him about potential resistance from powerful interests, including generator importers and marketers who benefit from unreliable public power supply.
The Senate also charged the incoming minister to urgently address grid instability and work towards sustainable solutions in line with the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Tegbe is expected to be sworn in by President Tinubu in the coming days. Tinubu in the coming days.Tinubu in the coming days.Tinubu in the coming days.Tinubu in the coming days.Tinubu in the coming days.
Administrator and Writer
