Finally, Adelabu resigns

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned from office, citing plans to pursue the Oyo State governorship, and called for the creation of a coordinating minister for Energy to drive reforms across Nigeria’s power and gas sectors.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adelabu said his exit will take effect on April 30, 2026, in line with provisions of the amended Electoral Act, which require serving public officials to step down before contesting elections.

His Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, confirmed the development, noting that the outgoing minister expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve.

Adelabu used the occasion to advocate for stronger coordination within the energy sector, proposing a central leadership structure to harmonise policies across power, gas, and related industries for more effective implementation.

Reflecting on his tenure, he highlighted key reforms, including the rollout of the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralised the power sector and improved the investment environment.

He also pointed to increased electricity generation, which rose to over 6,000 megawatts, supported by the addition of the Zungeru Hydropower Plant and the rehabilitation of existing thermal facilities.

According to him, transmission capacity improved through upgrades under the Presidential Power Initiative, while progress was made in the distribution segment through tighter regulation, improved revenue collection, and efforts to cut Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses.

Adelabu further noted advances in metering through the Presidential Metering Initiative and the World Bank-backed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme.

On the financial front, he said reforms, including tariff adjustments and a N4 trillion debt restructuring plan, helped boost market revenues from N1 trillion in 2023 to N2.3 trillion in 2025, restoring a measure of investor confidence.

Despite these gains, he acknowledged persistent challenges such as gas supply constraints, vandalism of infrastructure, and the need for full commercialisation of the electricity value chain.

To address these issues, Adelabu proposed measures including cost-reflective tariffs with targeted subsidies, recapitalisation of distribution companies, accelerated metering nationwide, sustained investment in transmission, and stronger regulatory enforcement.

He emphasised that establishing a coordinating minister for Energy would provide the strategic oversight needed to improve gas supply, optimise hydroelectric resources, and fast-track renewable energy development.

Adelabu assured of a smooth transition process and thanked the President for his support during his time in office.