Amid persistent concerns over power supply, grid instability and sector inefficiencies, President Bola Tinubu has appointed Rilwan Lanre Babalola to lead a presidential task force charged with resetting Nigeria’s electricity market.
Babalola will serve as Special Adviser to the President on Power and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration, a high-level intervention vehicle designed to drive urgent and measurable improvements across the electricity value chain.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the move reflects the administration’s resolve to confront long-standing structural challenges in the sector.
According to Onanuga, “the President has mandated the task force to operate as a delivery-focused mechanism under direct presidential oversight, with clear targets to restore discipline, efficiency and commercial viability in the power sector.”
He added that the initiative “underscores President Tinubu’s determination to undertake a decisive and results-driven reset of Nigeria’s electricity industry in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Onanuga further disclosed that the President has approved the re-designation of the Office of the Special Adviser (Energy) to Special Adviser (Oil & Gas) “to ensure clarity of roles and eliminate duplication within the energy governance architecture.”
Highlighting Babalola’s credentials, the presidential spokesman noted that the former Minister of Power brings “deep sectoral expertise and a strong understanding of the structural and operational constraints that have continued to hinder optimal performance in the electricity market.”
“The President expects Mr Babalola to bring urgency, discipline and a results-oriented approach to this assignment, with a clear focus on delivering tangible improvements in power supply and sector performance,” Onanuga said.
He explained that the task force has been given a broad but time-bound mandate to implement critical reforms across the sector.
“The task force will drive a comprehensive system reset of the electricity value chain, anchored on a ‘Performance Before Expansion’ framework that prioritises efficiency and sustainability over capacity growth without structure,” he stated.
Onanuga said the intervention would target a significant reduction in technical, commercial and collection losses, while strengthening cost discipline and tariff integrity.
“It will also enhance revenue assurance, improve sector liquidity, and restore grid discipline and market integrity, which are essential to building investor confidence and ensuring long-term stability,” he added.
The presidential aide further noted that the task force would work to “promote productive use of electricity across key economic sectors, develop Electricity Growth Zones, and reduce the fiscal burden of the power sector on government finances.”
He said the body is also expected to deliver “a 90-day implementation blueprint outlining actionable steps and measurable milestones for immediate impact.”
Onanuga emphasised that the task force would coordinate closely with relevant ministries, departments and agencies to ensure alignment and seamless execution of reforms.
“This is not a routine committee. It is a strategic, high-impact intervention designed to reset the fundamentals of the power sector and deliver real results to Nigerians in the shortest possible time,” he said.
