JUST IN: Tinubu appoints Rilwan Babalola as new Special Adviser on power

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, April 30, appointed Rilwan Lanre  Babalola as the new Special Adviser on Power.

Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on Information and Strategy, in a statement said Babalola will also serve as the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration.

According to Onanuga, the president also redesignated the Office of the Special Adviser (Energy) as the Special Adviser (Oil & Gas).

He said this move by the president is aimed at clarifying the available roles and also avoiding duplication of functions within the energy governance framework.

A former Minister for Power, Babalola brings deep sectoral expertise and a proven understanding of the structural and operational challenges within the electricity value chain.

Onanuga also noted that this appointment underscores President Tinubu’s determination to undertake a decisive and results-driven reset of Nigeria’s power sector.

The Presidential Taskforce, which he heads, will operate under a direct presidential mandate as a high-level, delivery-focused vehicle to restore discipline, efficiency, and commercial viability across the power sector, while ensuring effective coordination among relevant ministries, departments, and agencies.

The Taskforce’s mandate includes driving a comprehensive system reset of the electricity sector; implementing a “Performance Before Expansion” framework; reducing technical, commercial, and collection losses; and strengthening cost discipline and tariff integrity.

It will also enhance revenue assurance and sector liquidity; restore grid discipline and market integrity; promote productive use of power across key sectors; develop Electricity Growth Zones; reduce fiscal exposure; and deliver a 90-day implementation blueprint.

The President expects the new special adviser on power to bring urgency, discipline, and a strong execution focus to this assignment, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, to deliver measurable improvements in power supply and sector performance.