President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Rilwan Lanre Babalola as Special Adviser on Power and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration, signaling a renewed push to address persistent challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
The appointment was disclosed in a press statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Babalola, who previously served as Minister of Power, is widely regarded as an experienced figure in the sector, bringing a deep understanding of both the structural and operational issues affecting electricity generation, transmission, and distribution in the country.
In a related move, the presidency announced a restructuring within its energy advisory framework. The Office of the Special Adviser on Energy has now been redesignated as Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, a decision aimed at improving clarity in roles and eliminating overlaps in responsibilities within the government’s energy governance system.
According to the statement: “The newly constituted task force will operate under a direct presidential mandate as a delivery-focused vehicle to restore discipline, efficiency, and commercial viability across the power sector.
“It is also expected to coordinate activities among key government ministries, departments, and agencies,” it stated.
The task force has been given a broad mandate to overhaul the electricity sector, including implementing a comprehensive system reset designed to improve performance and accountability. Central to its strategy is the adoption of a “Performance Before Expansion” framework, which prioritises efficiency and stability before further growth.
Other key responsibilities include reducing technical, commercial, and collection losses, strengthening cost control mechanisms, and ensuring tariff discipline across the industry.
The team is also expected to boost revenue generation and improve liquidity within the sector, while restoring order and compliance in grid operations and the electricity market.
Beyond immediate reforms, the task force will focus on promoting the productive use of electricity across critical sectors of the economy, developing targeted electricity growth zones, and reducing the fiscal burden on government resources.
A 90-day implementation plan has also been outlined as part of the strategy, reflecting the administration’s urgency in delivering measurable improvements.
President Tinubu is said to be counting on Babalola’s experience to drive results with speed, discipline, and strong execution, in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
