RismadarVoice Reporters, April 30, 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed former Minister of Power, Mr Rilwan Lanre Babalola, as Special Adviser to the President on Power and Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Power Sector Reset and Restoration.
The appointment, announced in a State House press release on April 30, 2026, is part of efforts to reposition Nigeria’s electricity sector and address longstanding challenges affecting power supply and efficiency.
In a related development, the President approved the redesignation of the Office of the Special Adviser on Energy to Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, a move aimed at clarifying responsibilities and eliminating overlaps within the energy governance structure.
Babalola is expected to leverage his extensive experience in the power sector to drive reforms and deliver measurable improvements. According to the statement, his appointment reflects the administration’s commitment to a results-oriented overhaul of the electricity value chain.
The Presidential Task Force, which he will lead, is mandated to implement a comprehensive reset of the power sector. Its responsibilities include enforcing a “performance before expansion” framework, reducing technical and commercial losses, improving revenue generation, and strengthening operational discipline across the industry.
The Taskforce will also focus on restoring grid stability, enhancing market integrity, promoting productive use of electricity, and developing Electricity Growth Zones, while working to reduce government fiscal exposure in the sector.
Additionally, it is expected to produce a 90-day implementation blueprint to guide immediate reforms.
President Tinubu has charged Babalola to bring urgency, discipline, and strong execution to the role, in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving power supply and driving economic growth.
