Tinubu appoints Babalola as power adviser, sets up taskforce to reset electricity sector

President Bola Tinubu has appointed former Power Minister Rilwan Lanre Babalola as Special Adviser on Power and Chairman of a newly created Presidential Taskforce aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s electricity sector.

The appointment was announced Thursday, via a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

As part of the restructuring, the presidency also redesignated the Office of the Special Adviser on Energy to focus solely on Oil and Gas, a move officials say is intended to streamline responsibilities and eliminate overlaps within the energy governance framework.

Babalola, who previously served as Minister of Power, is expected to lead the taskforce in executing a broad reform agenda targeted at improving efficiency and restoring stability across the sector. The taskforce will operate under a direct presidential mandate, coordinating efforts among key ministries, departments, and agencies.

According to the presidency, the taskforce will prioritise reducing technical and commercial losses, improving revenue collection, and enforcing cost discipline. It is also expected to strengthen market integrity, boost sector liquidity, and promote increased electricity use in critical sectors of the economy.

Other key objectives include the development of Electricity Growth Zones, reducing government financial exposure in the sector, and delivering a 90-day implementation plan for reforms.