Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Rilwan Lanre Babalola as Special Adviser on Power and named him Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration.
As part of broader reforms, the President has also redefined the Office of the Special Adviser (Energy), which will now focus exclusively on Oil & Gas to streamline responsibilities and eliminate overlaps within the energy governance structure.
Mr. Babalola, who previously served as Minister for Power, brings extensive experience and a strong grasp of the systemic and operational issues affecting Nigeria’s electricity value chain.
This appointment reflects the administration’s commitment to a decisive, results-oriented overhaul of the power sector. The Task Force he leads will function under direct presidential authority as a high-level implementation body tasked with restoring efficiency, discipline, and commercial viability, while ensuring coordination across key government institutions.
Its responsibilities include executing a comprehensive reset of the electricity system, enforcing a “Performance Before Expansion” approach, cutting technical and commercial losses, and improving revenue collection. The Task Force will also focus on strengthening tariff discipline, boosting sector liquidity, restoring grid stability, and promoting productive energy use across critical sectors.
Additionally, it will oversee the development of Electricity Growth Zones, reduce fiscal risks, and produce a 90-day action plan for implementation.
The President expects Mr. Babalola to approach this role with urgency, discipline, and a strong execution mindset, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda to achieve tangible improvements in power supply and overall sector performance.
