The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has submitted his resignation and proposed the creation of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to drive reforms across Nigeria’s power and gas sectors. The resignation was conveyed in a letter dated April 22, 2026 and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The minister said his exit will take effect on April 30, 2026, as he prepares to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
The minister said sustaining progress in the power sector requires stronger coordination at the highest level, including a central authority to align policy direction and execution. His aide, Bolaji Tunji, confirmed that the minister expressed appreciation to the President for the opportunity to serve and described his tenure as a period of contribution to national development.
The decision to resign is in line with the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which restricts serving political office holders from contesting elections. During his tenure, Adelabu highlighted key achievements, including the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralised the electricity market and improved investment conditions. Peak power generation rose to over 6,000 megawatts, supported by the Zungeru Hydropower Plant and upgrades to thermal power stations, while transmission capacity improved under the Presidential Power Initiative.
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He also pointed to progress in electricity distribution through stronger regulation, improved revenue collection and efforts to reduce technical and commercial losses. Metering expansion advanced through the Presidential Metering Initiative and the World Bank-supported Distribution Sector Recovery Programme. Despite these gains, challenges such as gas supply constraints and infrastructure issues remain. The minister recommended measures including cost-reflective tariffs with targeted subsidies, recapitalisation of distribution companies, expanded metering and increased investment in transmission, alongside the proposed coordinating minister role to strengthen oversight across the energy sector.
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