Adelabu resigns as power minister to contest Oyo gov election

By Obas Esiedesa

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned from his position, bringing to a close a tenure marked by key reforms and marginal improvements in Nigeria’s electricity sector.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, Adelabu said his exit will take effect from April 30, 2026, as he prepares to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

The decision, he noted, complies with provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which bars serving political office holders from contesting elections.

His resignation was confirmed by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, who said the minister expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his time in office as a privilege to contribute to national development.

Adelabu’s exit comes after nearly three years at the helm of the power ministry, during which he oversaw the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, a landmark reform that decentralised the electricity market and opened up investment opportunities at the sub-national level.

Under his leadership, peak power generation rose to over 6,000 megawatts, driven largely by the integration of the Zungeru Hydropower Plant and the rehabilitation of several thermal plants.

The minister also presided over improvements in transmission infrastructure through grid upgrades under the Presidential Power Initiative, while the distribution segment recorded gains in revenue collection and regulatory oversight.

Efforts to reduce Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses and close the metering gap were advanced through initiatives such as the Presidential Metering Initiative and the World Bank-backed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme.

On the financial side, Adelabu said reforms, including tariff adjustments and a ₦4 trillion debt restructuring programme, helped boost market revenues from about ₦1 trillion in 2023 to ₦2.3 trillion in 2025. The measures, he noted, contributed to restoring investor confidence and setting the sector on a path toward sustainability.

Despite these strides, the outgoing minister acknowledged lingering challenges, including inadequate gas supply, infrastructure vandalism, and incomplete commercialisation of the electricity value chain—issues that have continued to constrain stable power supply.

As part of his exit recommendations, Adelabu proposed the creation of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to harmonise policy direction across the power, gas, water, and environmental sectors.

He argued that stronger central coordination is critical to improving gas availability for thermal generation, optimising hydro resources, and accelerating renewable energy deployment.

He also called for the continuation of key reforms, including cost-reflective tariffs with targeted subsidies, recapitalisation of distribution companies, nationwide metering, and sustained investment in transmission infrastructure.

Tunji said Adelabu remains committed to ensuring a seamless handover process, even as he bows out of office, leaving behind a reform-driven legacy in a sector still grappling with deep-rooted structural challenges.

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