Tinubu Swears In Joseph Tegbe as Minister of Power, Sets Stage for New Era in Electricity Sector
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday officially swore in Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Nigeria's new Minister of Power, marking the beginning of a fresh chapter in the country's quest to address longstanding challenges in the electricity sector. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where Tegbe took the oath of office alongside Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, who was sworn in as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
The ceremony was attended by top government officials, including Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, the President's Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other senior aides. The event formally ushered the new ministers into the Federal Executive Council (FEC), where they are expected to contribute to the implementation of the Tinubu administration's policies and development agenda.
Tegbe's appointment follows the resignation of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down from office earlier this year. Before his appointment, Tegbe served as Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership and had built a reputation as a seasoned technocrat with extensive experience in economic reforms, public policy, governance, and private-sector advisory services.
His emergence as Minister of Power has generated considerable interest, especially given Nigeria's persistent electricity challenges, including inadequate power generation, transmission bottlenecks, metering deficits, and recurring national grid disturbances.
During his screening before the Senate in May, Tegbe outlined his priorities for the power sector, emphasizing the need to stabilize the national grid, improve metering nationwide, strengthen sector accountability, and attract sustainable investments into the electricity industry. He assured lawmakers that Nigerians would begin to see visible improvements as reforms are implemented across the power value chain.
The new minister has also stressed the importance of addressing structural issues affecting electricity supply, including gas availability, infrastructure modernization, commercial viability, and regulatory discipline. Industry stakeholders believe his background in policy development and institutional transformation could prove valuable in tackling the complex challenges facing the sector.
For many Nigerians, the appointment comes with renewed expectations. Access to reliable electricity remains a critical factor for economic growth, job creation, industrial productivity, and improved quality of life. As Tegbe assumes office, citizens and businesses alike will be watching closely to see how his leadership translates into measurable improvements in power supply.
With his swearing-in now complete, the task ahead is clear: delivering on promises of reform and helping build a more stable and efficient electricity sector capable of supporting Nigeria's development aspirations.