Tinubu appoints ex-minister Babalola as SA on Power, chairs presidential taskforce on sector reset

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Rilwan Lanre Babalola as the Special Adviser to the President on Power and as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration.

Tinubu also redesignated the Office of the Special Adviser (Energy) as the Special Adviser (Oil and Gas) to clarify roles and avoid duplication of functions within the energy governance framework.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced this in a statement issued on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Onanuga said Babalola’s appointment underscores Tinubu’s determination to undertake a decisive and results-driven reset of Nigeria’s power sector.

He said Babalola, a former Minister of Power, brings deep sectoral expertise and a proven understanding of the structural and operational challenges within the electricity value chain.

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He noted that the presidential taskforce will operate under a direct presidential mandate as a high-level, delivery-focused vehicle to restore discipline, efficiency, and commercial viability across the power sector, while ensuring effective coordination among relevant ministries, departments, and agencies.

According to him, the taskforce’s mandate includes driving a comprehensive system reset of the electricity sector; implementing a “Performance Before Expansion” framework; reducing technical, commercial, and collection losses; and strengthening cost discipline and tariff integrity.

“It will also enhance revenue assurance and sector liquidity; restore grid discipline and market integrity; promote productive use of power across key sectors; develop Electricity Growth Zones; reduce fiscal exposure; and deliver a 90-day implementation blueprint,” Onanuga added.

He stated that Tinubu expects Babalola to bring urgency, discipline, and a strong execution focus to this assignment, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, to deliver measurable improvements in power supply and sector performance.